LIBRARY 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

SANTA  BARBARA 


PRESENTED  BY 

ESTATE   OF 

HUBERT      ORRISS 


UCSB  LIBRARY 
X- 


CONWAY  CASTLE. 


Connoisseur's  BOttton 


Historical  Tales 

The  Romance  of  Reality 


lung 


Volume  III. 


By 

CHARLES   MORRIS 

AUTHOR  OF 

"  HALF-HOURS  WITH  THE  BEST 
AMERICAN  AUTHORS,''  "TALES 
FROM  THE  DRAMATISTS,"  ETC. 


THE  R.   H.   WHITTEN    COMPANY 

NEW  YORK    #    LOS  ANGELES 


Copyright.  1891,  by  J.  B.  LiPPiNcoTT  COMPANY. 
Copyright,  1904,  by  J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  III. 


BOOK    IX. 

THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 

CHAPTER.  PA«K 

I.— THE  ENCHANTED  CASTLE  OF  KING  PELL  AM      5 
II. — THE  MARVEL  OF  THE  FLOATING  SWORD  .   .      14 

III. — How  GALAHAD  GOT  HIS  SHIELD 31 

IV. — THE  TEMPTATION  OF  SIB  PERCIVALE  ....     46 

V. — THE  STRANGE  ADVENTURES  OF  SIR  BORS  .   .     66 

VI. — THE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  MAGIC  SHIP  ...     89 

VII. — How  LANCELOT  SAW  THE  SANGREAL  ....    102 

VlIL— THE     DEEDS     OF      THE     THREE     CHOSEN 

KNIGHTS 113 

BOOK  x. 
THE  LOVE  OF  LANCELOT  AND  GUENEVER. 

I.— THE  POISONING  OF  SIR  PATRISE 123 

IL — THE  LILY  MAID  OF  ASTOLAT 137 

III. — How  ELAINE  DIED  FOR  LOVE 150 

IV. — THE  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  CART 160 

3 


4  CONTENTS   OF    VOLUME  III. 

BOOK    XI. 

THE  HAND  OF  DESTINY. 

CHAPTER.  PAGE 

I.— THE  TRAPPING  OP  THE  LION 181 

II.— THE  RESCUE  OP  THE  QUEEN 190 

III. — THE  RETURN  OF  GUENEVER 200 

IV. — THE  WAR  BETWEEN  ARTHUR  AND  LANCELOT  218 

V. — THE  STING  OF  THE  VIPER 228 

VI. — THE  PASSING  OF  ARTHUR 241 

VII. — THE  DEATH  OF  LANCELOT  AND   GUENEVER  246 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


VOLUME   III.     KING  ARTHUR. 

PAGE 

CONWAY  CASTLK Frontispiece. 

ON  THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL 5 

THE  RUINED  CASTLE 105 

LANCELOT  LEAVES  ASTOI.AT 141 

ELAINE  AND  THE  DUMB  ROWER                               .  157 


ON  THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 


KING  ARTHUR 

AND  THB 

KNIGHTS  OF  THE   ROUND  TABLE 


BOOK:  ix. 

THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

THE  ENCHANTED  CASTLE  OP  KING  PELLAM. 

AFTER  many  years  had  come  and  gone,  and  alJ 
at  the  court  of  Arthur  the  king  had  grown  older 
and  wiser,  there  came  to  pass  a  series  of  adven- 
tures more  marvellous  than  had  ever  been  known 
upon  the  earth  before,  and  of  a  nobler  kind  than 
mere  tourneyings  and  joustings,  being  no  less 
than  the  quest  of  the  holy  vessel  named  the  San- 
greal,  in  which  was  kept  a  portion  of  the  blood  of 
our  blessed  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ. 

And  through  this  quest  much  disaster  came 
upon  the  land,  and  the  noble  fellowship  of  the 
Round  Table  was  broken  up  and  destroyed,  for 
many  went  in  search  of  the  holy  vessel  who  had 
lived  evil  lives,  and  of  these  few  came  back,  but 
most  of  them  died  deaths  of  violence. 

This  sacred  talisman — the  Sangreal — had  been 
brought  to  England  centuries  before  by  Joseph  of 
1*  5 


6        THI  QFEBT  OF  THK  HOLT  GRAIL. 

Ariinathea,  a  follower  of  our  Saviour,  and  had 
passed  down  from  him  to  his  descendant,  King 
Pellam,  of  Listengeise,  him  whom  Balin  struck 
the  dolorous  stroke,  and  who  was  destined  to  lie 
in  misery  and  pain  until  he  should  be  healed  of 
his  wound  by  the  winner  of  the  holy  vessel. 

But  to  tell  how  this  perilous  quest  began  we 
must  go  long  years  back  and  relate  a  story  of 
strange  adventures  and  marvellous  deliverances. 

For  it  had  happened  that  during  a  feast  of  Whit- 
suntide Lancelot  du  Lake  left  Arthur's  court  at 
Camelot  and  rode  afar  in  search  of  adventures. 
And  after  a  long  journey,  in  which  many  strange 
things  came  to  pass,  he  arrived  at  Listengeise, 
the  land  of  King  Pellam.  Here  he  rescued  the 
king's  fair  daughter,  Elaine,  from  a  dismal  enchant- 
ment, under  which  she  had  long  lain  through  the 
wiles  of  Morgan  le  Fay  and  the  queen  of  Northgalis, 
who  hated  her  bitterly  from  her  renown  for  beauty. 

After  the  rescue  of  the  lady,  Lancelot  fought 
with  and  killed  a  mighty  serpent  that  haunted  a 
tomb  near  by,  and  had  done  much  harm  in  the 
land.  Then  there  came  to  him  a  dignified  and 
noble  baron,  who  thanked  him  heartily  in  the 
name  of  the  king,  and  invited  him  to  a  repast  in 
the  castle  hall. 

But  as  they  sat  at  table  a  wonderful  thing  took 
place.  For  in  at  the  open  window  of  the  hall 
there  flew  a  dove,  which  bore  in  its  mouth  what 
seemed  a  little  censer  of  gold.  And  from  this 
censer  came  such  a  rich  and  penetrating  perfume 


THE   ENCHANTED   CASTLE   OP   KINO   ^ELLAM.         7 

as  if  all  the  spicery  of  the  world  had  been  there, 
while  upon  the  table  suddenly  appeared  the  most 
delicious  of  meats  and  drinks.  Then  came  in  a 
damsel,  young  and  beautiful,  who  bore  in  her 
hands  a  vessel  of  gold,  before  which  all  who 
were  there  kneeled  and  prayed  devoutly. 

"  What  may  all  this  mean  ?"  asked  Lancelot  in 
deep  surprise. 

"It  has  been  granted  you  to  see  the  most 
precious  and  wonderful  thing  in  the  world,"  an- 
swered the  noble  baron.  "  For  you  have  been 
permitted  to  gaze  upon  the  holy  Sangreal.  In 
the  time  to  come  all  Arthur's  knights  shall  take 
part  in  a  quest  for  this  precious  talisman,  and 
great  shall  be  the  woe  therefrom,  for  through  that 
quest  the  Round  Table  fellowship  shall  be  broken 
up  and  many  of  its  noble  knights  destroyed." 

But  all  that  passed  in  that  land  is  too  much  for 
us  to  tell.  We  shall  say  only  that  the  fair  Elaine 
came  to  love  Lancelot  dearly,  but  he  gave  her 
no  love  in  return,  for  all  the  affection  of  his  heart 
was  centred  upon  Queen  Guenever.  Yet  King 
Pellam  so  desired  that  Lancelot  should  wed  his 
fair  daughter  that  in  the  end  he  used  enchant- 
ment, and  brought  him  to  make  her  his  wife  when 
under  a  magic  spell,  the  deluded  knight  fancying 
that  it  was  Guenever  whom  he  had  wedded. 

This  delusion  lasted  not  long,  and  when  the 
deceived  spouse  came  to  his  senses  and  learned 
how  he  had  been  dealt  with,  he  broke  away  like 
a  madman,  and,  gaining  his  horse,  rode  wildly 


8  THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLT    GRAIL. 

through  the  land.  And  every  knight-errant  who 
dared  to  joust  with  him  was  made  to  suffer  from 
the  fury  that  burned  in  his  blood. 

Long  afterwards,  as  chance  and  adventure 
brought  about,  there  came  to  King  Pellam's  castle 
Sir  Bore  de  Ganis,  Lancelot's  nephew.  He  was 
gladly  received,  and  treated  with  all  the  good 
cheer  and  honor  which  the  castle  could  afford. 
And  as  he  sat  at  his  repast  with  the  castle  lords, 
there  came  in,  as  it  had  come  to  Lancelot,  the 
dove  with  the  censer,  at  which  the  air  was  filled 
with  the  richest  perfume,  and  the  table  covered  with 
the  most  delicious  viands.  Then  entered  the  maiden 
with  the  holy  grail,  and  all  fell  to  their  prayers. 

"Truly,"  said  Bors,  "this  is  a  strange  place,  and 
a  land  full  of  marvels." 

"This  I  will  say,"  answered  the  noble  baron 
who  sat  in  the  king's  chair,  "  that  of  the  knights 
who  come  here  few  see  the  holy  vessel,  and  fewer 
go  away  with  any  honor.  Gawaine,  the  good 
knight,  was  here  but  lately ;  but  he  saw  not  what 
your  eyes  have  beheld,  and  he  left  here  in  shame. 
None  but  those  of  a  worshipful  life  and  who  love 
God  devoutly  can  behold  this  marvel,  or  sleep  in 
this  castle  without  coming  to  harm." 

"  I  am  in  quest  of  adventures,"  said  Bors,  "  and 
shall  lie  in  your  castle  this  night,  come  what  will. 
Men  call  me  honest  and  virtuous,  and  I  stand 
ready  to  dare  all  perils  the  castle  may  hold." 

"  I  counsel  you  not,"  said  the  baron.  "  You 
will  hardly  escape  without  harm  and  shame." 


THE   ENCHANTED   CASTLE   OF   KING   PELLAM.         9 

"  Let  come  what  will  come,  I  am  ready." 
"  Then  I  advise  you  to  confess,  and  go  to  your 
chamber  with  a  clean  soul,  for  you  will  be  sorely 
tried." 

"  Let  it  be  so.  Your  counsel  is  wise." 
After  Sir  Bors  had  been  confessed  and  received 
absolution,  he  was  led  into  a  fair  large  chamber, 
around  which  were  many  doors,  while  a  bed  of 
royal  richness  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  floor. 
Here  he  was  left  alone,  and  threw  himself  on  the 
bed  in  his  armor,  deeming  it  wise  to  be  prepared 
for  all  that  might  come. 

Not  long  had  he  lain  there  with  open  eyes  and 
alert  wits,  when  the  room  was  all  at  once  bril- 
liantly lighted  up,  though  whence  the  light  came 
he  could  not  tell.  And  suddenly  a  great  and  long 
spear,  whose  point  burnt  like  a  taper,  shot  across 
the  chamber  without  hand  to  guide  it,  and  struck 
him  in  the  shoulder  so  fierce  a  blow  that  hia 
armor  was  pierced,  and  he  received  a  wound  a 
hand's-breadth  in  depth,  which  pained  him  bitterly. 
Quickly  afterwards  an  armed  knight  strode  in, 
with  shield  on  shoulder  and  sword  in  hand,  who 
cried  in  a  harsh  voice, — 

"  Arise,  sir  knight,  and  fight  with  me." 
"  I  shall  not  fail  you,"  said  Bors,  hot  with  the 
pain  of  his  wound.  "  I  am  sorely  hurt,  but  I 
have  vowed  boldly  to  dare  aught  that  might  come 
to  me.  If  that  burning  spear  came  from  your 
hand  you  shall  pay  dearly  for  it." 

With  these  words  he  sprang  from  the  bed  and 


10       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 

attacked  the  intruder,  and  a  hard  and  stern  battle 
began,  which  lasted  long.  At  the  end  the  in- 
truding knight  was  driven  backward  to  a  cham- 
ber door,  through  which  he  passed,  leaving  Bors 
master  of  the  floor. 

But  hardly  had  he  rested  a  minute  when  the 
defeated  knight  returned,  as  fresh  as  at  the  start, 
and  attacked  Bors  with  renewed  strength.  Again 
the  battle  went  on  fiercely.  But  when  Bors  saw 
his  antagonist  once  more  retreating  towards  the 
chamber  door,  he  cried  out, — 

"  Not  so,  my  good  fellow.  You  played  that 
trick  on  me  once;  you  shall  not  again.  Back, 
and  defend  yourself.  If  you  defeat  me  it  shall 
be  by  strength,  not  by  magic."  And  he  stationed 
himself  before  the  door,  and  drove  back  his  oppo- 
nent with  such  fury,  that  in  a  moment  more  he 
hurled  him  to  the  floor. 

"  Yield,  or  you  die !"  he  cried,  setting  his  foot 
on  the  fallen  knight's  head. 

"  I  yield,"  came  the  answer. 

"  What  is  your  name  ?" 

"  I  am  Sir  Pedivere  of  the  Straight  Marches." 

"  Then,  Sir  Pedivere  of  the  Straight  Marches, 
take  yourself  away.  And  if  you  have  any  of 
your  fellows  behind  yonder  door,  bid  them  to 
keep  out  of  this  room,  for  I  came  here  to  sleep, 
not  to  fight.  At  Whitsunday  next,  present  your- 
self at  King  Arthur's  court,  and  tell  him  that  you 
have  come  thither  as  a  prisoner  of  Sir  Bors  of 
the  sharp  sword." 


THE   ENCHANTED   OASTLE   OF   KINO   PELLAM.      11 

This,  Sir  Pedivere  swore  to  do,  and  left  his  con- 
queror to  what  rest  he  could  get.  But  this  was 
little,  for  enchantment  surrounded  the  daring 
knight.  The  room  suddenly  became  full  of  fright- 
ful noises  and  alive  with  peril.  Whence  they 
came  he  knew  not,  whether  through  doors  or 
windows,  but  a  flight  of  arrows  and  of  crossbow 
bolts  filled  the  air,  whistling  shrewdly  past  his  ears, 
while  many  of  them  fell  upon  him  and  pierced  his 
flesh  through  the  open  places  in  his  armor. 

"  Who  can  sleep  in  such  a  den  of  witchcraft  as 
this  ?"  he  cried,  in  a  rage,  springing  from  the  bed. 
As  he  did  so  one  of  the  doors  opened,  and  a  great 
lion  leaped  fiercely  in,  with  a  hideous  roar. 

"  It  is  better  to  fight  a  lion  that  one  can  see, 
than  arrows  which  nobody  shoots,"  cried  Bors, 
and  he  rushed  without  hesitation  on  the  danger- 
ous animal. 

Sharp  was  the  fight  that  followed,  but  of  short 
duration.  The  lion  sprang  wildly  upon  him,  and 
tore  the  shield  from  his  arm,  while  the  sharp  claws 
rent  his  flesh.  But  the  knight  retorted  with  a 
sweeping  stroke  that  cut  oft0  the  frightful  beast's 
head,  and  stretched  its  tawny  body  lifeless  on  the 
floor. 

Then  Bors  walked  to  the  window  to  see  whither 
the  arrows  had  come,  and  as  he  looked  into  the 
castle  court  he  beheld  a  wondrous  sight.  For 
before  his  eyes  stood  a  dragon,  huge  and  horrible 
of  aspect,  in  whose  forehead  were  letters  of  gold 
which  seemed  to  him  to  form  King  Arthur's 


12  TfflB   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLT   GRAIL. 

emblem.  And  as  he  gazed  there  leaped  into  the 
court  an  old  and  mighty  leopard,  which  sprang 
upon  the  dragon  and  engaged  in  desperate  battle 
with  the  huge  monster. 

At  last  the  dragon  spit  out  of  its  mouth  a  hun- 
dred of  what  seemed  small  dragons,  and  these 
quickly  leaped  upon  the  frightful  beast  and  rent 
it  to  fragments.  Then  all  the  animals  disappeared, 
and  an  old  man  came  into  the  court,  around  whose 
neck  two  adders  wreathed  their  folds.  In  his 
hand  was  a  harp,  upon  which  he  played,  while  he 
sang  an  old  song  telling  how  Joseph  of  Arima- 
thea  came  to  that  land.  When  his  song  was 
ended  he  said  to  Sir  Bors, — 

"  Go  from  this  land,  sir  knight,  for  you  shall 
have  no  more  adventures  here.  You  have  played 
your  part  well  and  nobly,  and  shall  do  still  better 
hereafter,  for  wondrous  things  are  reserved  for 
you." 

Then  Bors  saw  a  dove  of  whitest  plumage  fly 
across  the  court  with  a  golden  censer  in  its  mouth, 
from  which  seemed  to  stream  the  most  delicious 
perfumes.  And  the  tempest  which  had  raged  in 
the  sky  suddenly  ceased,  while  from  the  rent 
clouds  the  full  moon  poured  down  its  white  light 
to  the  earth. 

Next  there  came  into  the  court  four  children 
who  bore  four  tapers,  and  an  old  man  in  their 
midst  with  a  censer  in  one  hand  and  a  spear  in 
the  other,  and  that  spear  was  called  the  spear  of 
vengeance. 


THI   ENCHANTED   CASTLE   OF   KINO   PELLAM.      13 

"  Go  to  your  cousin,  Sir  Lancelot,"  said  the  old 
man,  "  and  tell  him  what  you  have  seen,  and  that 
if  he  had  been  as  clean  of  sin  as  he  should  be,  the 
adventure  which  all  this  signifies  would  have  been 
his.  Tell  him,  moreover,  that  though  in  worldly 
adventures  he  passes  all  others  in  manhood  and 
prowess,  there  are  many  his  betters  in  spiritual 
worth,  and  that  what  you  have  seen  and  done 
this  night  he  was  not  deemed  worthy  of." 

Then  Bors  saw  four  meanly-dressed  gentle- 
women pass  through  his  chamber,  and  enter  an 
apartment  beyond  which  was  lit  up  with  a  light 
like  that  of  midsummer.  Here  they  knelt  before 
an  altar  of  silver  with  four  pillars,  where  also 
kneeled  a  man  in  the  dress  of  a  bishop.  And  as 
the  knight  looked  upward  he  beheld  a  naked 
sword  hovering  over  his  head,  whose  blade  sbone 
like  silver,  yielding  a  flashing  light  that  blinded 
him  as  he  gazed.  As  he  stood  thus  sightless,  he 
heard  a  voice  which  said, — 

"  Go  hence,  Sir  Bors,  for  as  yet  thou  art  not 
worthy  to  be  in  this  place." 

Then  the  door  of  that  chamber  closed,  and  he 
went  backward  to  his  bed,  where  he  lay  and  slept 
undisturbed  till  morning  dawned.  But  when  the 
regent  of  King  Pellam  learned  what  had  hap- 
pened to  his  guest  in  the  night,  and  how  he  had 
escaped  the  perils  of  the  enchanted  chamber,  he 
greeted  him  joyfully,  and  said, — 

"  You  are  the  first  that  ever  endured  so  well 
that  chamber's  mysteries.  And  more  has  been 
2 


14       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  OB4IL. 

shown  to  your  eyes  than  any  others  have  seen. 
Go  home,  worthy  knight.  You  are  chosen  for 
great  deeds  in  the  time  to  come." 

Sir  Bore  thereupon  took  his  horse  and  rode  away, 
thinking  long  and  deeply  on  all  that  had  happened 
to  him. 


CHAPTBE  II. 

THE   MABVEL  OF  THE   FLOATING   8WOBD. 

MANY  and  strange  were  the  events  that  followed 
those  we  have  just  related,  and  great  trouble  and 
woe  came  therefrom.  For  when  Sir  Bora  returned 
to  Camelot  and  told  the  story  of  the  wedding  of 
Lancelot  and  Elaine,  much  was  the  secret  talk 
and  great  the  scandal.  And  when  the  news  came 
to  Guenever's  ears  she  flamed  with  wrath. 

Not  long  afterwards,  Lancelot  returned,  still 
half  frenzied  with  the  deception  that  had  been 
practised  upon  him.  When  Guenever  saw  him 
she  accused  him  bitterly  of  being  a  traitor  to  love, 
and  harshly  bade  him  leave  the  court,  and  never 
come  again  within  her  sight. 

This  bitter  reviling  turned  Lancelot's  frenzy  to 
a  sudden  madness.  With  distracted  brain  he 
leaped  from  a  wiudow  into  a  garden,  and  ran  like 
a  wild  man  through  wood  and  brake,  heedless 
that  his  clothes  were  torn  and  his  flesh  rent  with 
thorns  and  briers.  Thus  hotly  burns  despised 


THE    MARVEL   OF   THE   FLOATING    SWORD.          16 

love  in  the  human  heart  and  brain,  and  thus  it 
may  turn  the  strongest  senses  away  and  bring 
madness  to  the  clearest  mind. 

On  learning  what  had  passed,  Bors  and  Hector 
went  to  the  queen,  and  accused  her  harshly  of 
the  great  wrong  she  had  done  to  the  noble  Lan- 
celot. But  she  was  already  torn  with  remorse, 
and  she  knelt  before  these  noble  knights,  begging 
their  forgiveness,  and  praying  them  pitifully  to 
seek  Lancelot  and  bring  him  back  to  the  court. 

Months  passed  and  Lancelot  returned  not,  nor 
could  he  be  found,  though  he  was  sought  through 
many  lands.  For  he  kept  afar  from  cities  and 
courts,  and  roamed  through  wilds  and  wastes, 
where  he  had  many  adventures  in  his  madness, 
and  did  strange  and  wild  things. 

For  two  years  he  wandered  hither  and  thither 
in  frenzy,  until  at  length  he  came  to  Bang  Pellam's 
city  of  Corbin,  and  to  the  castle  where  dwelt  the 
fair  Elaine.  Here  he  was  given  shelter  in  a  little 
outhouse,  with  straw  to  sleep  on,  while  every  day 
they  threw  him  meat  and  set  him  drink,  for  none 
would  venture  near  a  madman  of  such  savage 
aspect. 

But  one  day  as  he  slept,  Elaine  chanced  to  be- 
hold him,  and  knew  him  at  once  for  Lancelot. 
Telling  a  trusty  baron  of  her  discovery,  she  had 
the  distracted  knight  borne  still  sleeping  into  a 
tower  chamber  in  which  was  kept  the  holy  vessel, 
the  Sangreal,  concealed  from  all  eyes  save  those 
of  persons  of  saintly  life  Lancelot  was  laid  near 


16       T"E  QUEST  OP  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

this,  and  when  all  had  left  the  chamber  a  man 
of  sanctity  entered  and  uncovered  the  vessel. 
Such  was  its  holy  influence  that  it  wrought 
marvellously  upon  the  distracted  knight  as  he  lay 
there  asleep,  and  the  madness  passed  away  from 
his  brain.  When  he  woke  he  was  himself  again, 
as  whole  a  man  in  mind  and  body  as  any  that 
stood  upon  the  earth.  For  so  healing  was  the 
virtue  of  that  precious  vessel  that  it  not  only 
drove  the  cloud  of  madness  from  his  mind,  but 
gave  him  back  all  his  old  might  and  comeliness 
of  body. 

Then,  ashamed  of  his  frenzy,  and  anxious  not 
to  be  known,  Lancelot  assumed  the  name  of  the 
Chevalier  Mai  Fet,  or  the  knight  who  has  tres- 
passed, and  took  up  his  abode  with  Elaine  and 
many  knights  and  ladies  at  a  castle  given  him  by 
King  Pellam.  This  stood  on  an  island  in  the 
midst  of  a  deep  and  clear  lake,  which  Lancelot 
named  the  Joyous  Isle.  And  now,  filled  again 
with  martial  fervor,  he  made  it  known  far  and 
wide  that  he  would  joust  with  any  knights  that 
came  that  way,  and  that  any  one  who  should  put 
him  to  the  worst  would  receive  as  a  prize  a  jewel 
of  worth  and  a  jerfalcon. 

But  none  won  the  prize,  though  very  many 
noble  knights  jousted  with  the  Chevalier  Mai  Fet. 

Last  of  all  came  Percivale  and  Hector,  who  had 
been  long  in  search  of  Lancelot.  Learning  the 
challenge,  Percivale  jousted  with  Lancelot,  and 
afterwards  they  fought  with  swords.  So  long 


THK   MAKVBL   OF   THE   FLOATING   SWORD.         17 

if 

and  even  was  their  combat,  that  at  length  both 
paused  for  breath.  And  now  Percivale,  wonder- 
ing who  this  sturdy  knight  could  be,  told  his 
name,  and  asked  for  his  in  return.  At  this,  Lan- 
celot threw  away  his  weapon,  and  took  his  late 
opponent  in  his  arms,  crying  out  that  he  was 
Lancelot  du  Lake. 

Glad  was  the  meeting  between  these  old  friends 
and  comrades,  and  richly  were  the  new-comers 
entertained  in  the  castle.  But  in  the  end  they 
persuaded  Lancelot  to  go  with  them  to  Camelot, 
and  the  disconsolate  Elaine  was  left  to  return,  with 
her  knights  and  ladies,  to  her  father's  castle. 

After  these  events  years  came  and  went,  until 
many  summers  and  winters  had  passed  over  Eng- 
land's fair  isle,  and  age  had  begun  to  lay  its  hand 
on  those  who  had  been  young,  while  those  who 
had  been  children  grew  up  and  became  knights 
and  ladies.  Then  came  at  length  the  time  fixed 
by  destiny  for  the  adventure  of  the  Sangreal. 
And  thus  this  adventure  began. 

When  again  approached  the  vigil  of  Pentecost, 
and  all  the  fellowship  of  the  Round  Table  had 
come  to  Camelot.  and  the  tables  were  set  to  dine, 
there  rode  into  the  great  hall  a  gentlewoman  of 
noble  aspect,  whose  horse  was  white  with  sweat 
and  foam. 

She  saluted  Lancelot  and  begged  him  to  go  with 

her,  though  whither  and  for  what   purpose  she 

would  not  say.     Stirred  by  his  love  of  adventure. 

he  armed  ai*d  rode  with  her,  and  before  tho  day's 

VOL.  III.—*  2* 


18       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

end  reached  an  abbey  of  nuns  in  a  secluded  valley 
Here,  as  he  stood  conversing  with  the  abbess, 
there  came  in  to  him  twelve  nuns,  bringing  with 
them  a  youth  who  had  not  yet  reached  manhood, 
but  was  large  and  powerful  of  frame,  and  as  hand- 
some of  face  as  any  man  he  had  ever  seen. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  ladies,  with  weeping  eyes,  "  we 
bring  you  this  child,  whom  we  have  long  nour- 
ished, and  pray  you  to  make  him  a  knight ;  for 
there  is  no  worthier  man  from  whom  he  can  re- 
ceive the  order  of  knighthood,  and  we  hold  him 
worthy  of  your  sword." 

Lancelot  looked  long  at  the  young  squire,  and 
saw  that  he  was  seemly,  and  demure  as  a  dove, 
and  of  wonderful  beauty  of  form  and  features, 
and  his  heart  went  out  with  a  great  love  for  the 
beautiful  youth. 

"  What  is  his  name  ?"  asked  Lancelot. 

«  We  call  him  Galahad." 

"  Comes  this  desire  from  himself?" 

"  It  does,"  said  they  all. 

"  From  whom  has  he  sprung  ?" 

"  His  mother  is  dead.  His  father  is  a  full  noble 
knight,  as  you  shall  soon  learn." 

"  Then  he  shall  be  knighted  by  my  hand  to- 
morrow at  the  morning  services,  for  truly  he 
seems  worthy  of  it." 

That  night,  Lancelot's  cousins,  Bors  and  Lionel, 
stopped  at  the  abbey,  and  spent  there  a  cheery 
evening  with  their  noble  kinsman.  At  early  morn 
of  the  next  day  he  gave  the  accolade  to  the  youth, 


THE   MARVEL   OF   THE   FLOATING   8WOED.         19 

pronouncing  him  knight,  and  bidding  Bors  and 
Lionel  to  stand  as  his  godfathers  in  the  order  of 
knighthood. 

"  And  may  God  make  you  a  good  man  and  a 
noble  knight,"  he  said.  "  Beauty  you  have  now, 
equal  to  any  I  have  ever  seen,  and  strength  and 
courage  I  doubt  not ;  if  you  bear  with  these  a 
noble  heart  and  an  earnest  mind  you  have  the 
best  treasures  that  God  can  confer  or  man  possess." 

Then,  when  they  had  broken  their  fast,  Lan- 
celot said  to  the  demure  and  modest  young 
knight, — 

"  Fair  sir,  will  you  come  with  me  to  the  court 
of  King  Arthur?" 

"I  humbly  beg  your  pardon,"  said  Galahad, 
"  but  I  cannot  come  at  this  time.  Trust  me  to 
follow  soon." 

Then  Lancelot  and  his  cousins  left  the  abbey 
and  rode  to  Camelot,  where  they  arrived  before 
the  hour  of  the  feast.  In  the  great  hall  were 
many  noble  knights,  some  of  them  strangers, 
who  walked  about  the  Round  Table,  reading  the 
names  in  letters  of  gold  in  the  several  seats,  and 
saying,— 

"  Here  sits  Gawaine,  here  Lancelot,  here  Per- 
civale,"  and  so  with  the  others. 

At  length  they  came  to  the  seat  perilous,  in 
which  no  man  but  Percivale  had  hitherto  dared 
to  sit,  and  which  he  no  longer  occupied.  To  their 
deep  surprise  they  found  there  newly  written  in 
letters  of  gold  these  words, — 


20       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

"  Four  hundred  and  fifty-four  winters  after  the 
passion  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  knight  shall 
come  for  whom  this  seat  is  held  by  destiny." 

"  What  marvellous  thing  is  this  ?"  cried  all  who 
saw  it.  "  Here  is  a  miracle." 

"  In  the  name  of  God,  what  means  it  ?"  cried 
Lancelot.  "Percivale  long  since  had  warning 
to  leave  that  seat.  Who  shall  fill  it  to-day,  for 
this  is  the  feast  of  Pentecost  of  the  four  hundred 
and  fifty-fourth  year.  The  year  and  day  have 
come,  but  where  and  who  is  the  man  ?  I  advise 
that  these  letters  be  hidden,  till  he  come  for  whom 
this  seat  is  pre-ordained." 

Then  it  was  ordered  that  the  writing  should  be 
covered  with  a  cloth  of  silk ;  and  the  king  bade 
his  guests  to  hasten  to  dinner,  and  forget  for  the 
time  being  what  they  had  seen. 

"  Sir,"  said  Kay,  the  steward,  "  if  you  go  to 
table  now  you  will  break  your  old  custom,  not  to 
sit  at  dinner  on  this  day  till  you  have  seen  or 
heard  of  some  adventure." 

"  Very  true,"  said  the  king.  "  I  had  forgotten 
my  custom  through  this  strange  event." 

As  they  stood  thus  speaking,  there  came  hastily 
into  the  court  a  squire,  whose  eyes  were  big  with 
wonder. 

"  Sire,  I  bring  you  marvellous  tidings,"  he  cried 
to  the  king. 

"  What  are  they  ?"  demanded  Arthur. 

"  As  I  stood  but  now  by  the  river,  I  saw  floating 
on  its  waters  a  great  square  stone,  and  above  this 


THE   MABVEL   OF   THE   FLOATING   SWORD.         21 

stood  the  hilt  of  a  sword,  whose  blade  was  thrust 
deeply  into  the  stone." 

"  A  stone  that  floats  I"  said  the  king.  "  That  is 
strange,  indeed.  I  must  see  this  marvel." 

Then  he,  followed  by  all  the  knights,  went  to 
the  river,  and  saw  there  that  the  squire  had 
spoken  truly;  for  a  great  stone  that  seemed  of 
red  marble  floated  like  wood  on  the  water,  and 
thrust  deeply  into  it  was  a  rich  sword,  in  whose 
pommel  were  many  jewels  of  price.  As  they 
looked  in  wonder  the  stone  whirled  inward  on  an 
eddy  and  came  aground  at  their  feet.  And  now 
they  saw  that  the  precious  stones  were  set  in 
letters  of  gold,  which  none  there  could  read. 
But  there  was  a  man  at  the  court  learned  in 
strange  tongues,  and  he  being  sent  for,  read  these 
with  ease,  and  thus  interpreted  them, — 

"  Never  shall  the  hand  of  man  draw  me  from 
this  stone  until  he  comes  by  whose  side  I  am  to 
hang;  and  he  shall  be  the  best  knight  in  the 
world." 

"  Lay  your  hand  on  this  sword  and  draw  it," 
said  the  king  to  Lancelot.  "  To  you  it  surely 
belongs ;  for  you  are  the  best  knight  in  the  world." 

"Best  of  hand,  mayhap,  but  not  of  heart  and 
life,"  said  Lancelot,  soberly.  "Certes,  sir,  that 
sword  is  not  for  me,  nor  have  I  the  hardiness  to 
set  hand  thereto.  I  had  a  vision  in  my  last  night's 
sleep,  and  this  it  told  me:  that  he  who  seeks  to 
draw  that  sword,  and  fails  therein,  shall  in  time 
receive  from  it  a  wound  which  shall  be  very  long  in 


22       THE  QUEST  OP  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

healing.  And  this  more  I  learned,  that  this  same 
day,  and  with  the  drawing  of  that  sword,  shall 
begin  the  marvellous  quest  of  *he  holy  vessel,  the 
Sangreal.  For  fate  has  destined  that  this  precious 
amulet  shall  be  sought  throughout  the  world ;  and 
to  him  who  finds  it  the  greatest  of  earth's  honors 
shall  come." 

The  king  and  all  the  knights  heard  these  words 
with  wonder,  for  Lancelot  spoke  like  one  inspired. 
Then  Arthur  turned  to  Gawaine. 

"  Fair  nephew,"  he  said,  "  try  you  this  task  for 
my  love." 

"  Saving  your  good  grace,"  said  Gawaine, "  that 
I  shall  not  do." 

"  Then,  sir,  seek  to  draw  the  sword  at  my  com- 
mand." 

"  Your  command  I  must  obey,"  said  Gawaine, 
"  yet  I  dread  to  meddle  with  magic." 

Then  he  took  the  sword  by  the  handle,  and 
pulled  with  all  his  might,  but  he  could  not 
stir  it. 

"I  thank  you,"  said  the  king,  "for  the  trial, 
even  if  you  have  failed." 

"  My  lord  Gawaine,"  said  Lancelot,  "  bear  well 
in  mind,  this  sword  shall  touch  you  so  sore  that 
you  would  give  the  best  castle  in  this  kingdom 
not  to  have  set  your  hand  thereto." 

"  It  may  be,"  answered  Gawaine.  "  Yet  I  could 
not  disobey  the  command  of  the  king." 

Then  the  king  turned  to  Percivaie,  and  asked 
him  for  his  love  to  try  the  task. 


THE  MARVEL   OP   THE   FLOATING   SWORD.         23 

"  Gladly  will  I,"  he  said,  "  if  only  to  bear  Ga- 
waine  fellowship." 

But  pull  as  strongly  as  he  would,  the  sword 
yielded  not  to  his  hand.  And  there  were  more 
there  so  hardy  as  to  disregard  Lancelot's  warning 
and  seek  to  draw  the  sword,  but  to  no  hand  would 
it  yield. 

"  Try  no  more,"  said  Kay  to  the  king.  "  You 
have  seen  your  marvel,  and  now  may,  with  a  good 
appetite,  go  to  your  dinner." 

This  advice  seemed  timely  to  the  king,  and  all 
went  to  the  court,  where  the  knights  took  their 
seats  at  the  Bound  Table,  and  were  served  by 
young  men  lately  made  knights.  When  they  had 
been  fully  served,  every  seat  being  filled  save  the 
seat  perilous,  another  marvellous  thing  happened. 
For  suddenly  all  the  doors  and  windows  of  the 
hall  shut  of  themselves.  Yet  the  room  was  not 
greatly  darkened,  and  men  looked  into  one  an- 
other's faces  with  abashed  and  frightened  visages. 

"  Fair  fellows  and  lords,"  said  the  king,  "this  is 
a  day  of  strange  events.  And  I  doubt  if  we  shall 
not  see  greater  before  night  comes,  for  it  seems  a 
day  set  aside  by  the  fates." 

As  he  spoke,  there  came  into  the  hall  an  ancient 
man,  clothed  all  in  white,  but  no  knight  knew 
through  which  door  he  had  entered.  By  the 
hand  he  led  a  young  knight,  clad  in  red  armor, 
but  without  sword  or  shield,  an  empty  scabbard 
hanging  by  his  side. 

"Peace  be  with  you,  fair  lords,"  said  the  old 


24  THE    QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY    UJEU1L. 

man.  Then  he  turned  to  King  Arthur,  and 
said, — 

"  Sir,  I  bring  with  me  a  young  knight  who  is  of 
kingly  lineage,  and  of  the  kindred  of  Joseph  of 
Arimathea.  By  his  hand  many  strange  marvels 
are  destined  to  be  accomplished." 

The  king  heard  these  words  with  close  atten- 
tion, and  answered  graciously, — 

"Sir,  you  are  right  welcome  here,  and  the 
young  knight  you  bring." 

Then  the  old  man  removed  the  youth's  armor, 
and  put  upon  him  a  coat  of  red  sendal  and  a 
mantle  that  was  furred  with  ermine.  And  Lan- 
celot saw  that  the  young  man  was  he  whom  he 
had  knighted  that  morning  at  the  abbey. 

But  the  chief  wonder  of  the  day  was  now  to 
appear.  For  the  old  man  said  to  his  young  com- 
panion,— 

"  Sir,  follow  me."  He  led  him  around  the  table 
till  they  came  to  the  seat  perilous,  beside  which 
sat  Lancelot.  Here  the  old  man  lifted  up  the 
silken  cloth,  and  lo !  the  letters  which  had  been 
covered  were  gone,  and  new  letters  of  gold  were 
visible,  which  read, — 

"  This  is  the  seat  of  Galahad,  the  high  prince." 

"Sir,"  said  the  old  man,  "this  seat  is  yours. 
Long  has  it  waited  your  coming." 

And  he  seated  him  therein,  while  all  the  circle 
of  knights  looked  on  in  wonder.  Now  for  the 
first  time  the  young  knight  spoke. 

"  Dear  sir,"  he  said,  "  you  may  now  depart,  for 


THE   MARVEL   OF   THE   FLOATING   SWORD.        25 

you  have  done  well  what  you  were  commanded 
to  do.  Recommend  me  to  my  grandsire,  King 
Pellam,  and  say  to  him  that  I  will  come  and  see 
him  as  soon  as  I  may." 

With  this  the  old  man  departed.  Outside  there 
waited  twenty  noble  squires,  who  mounted  when 
he  came,  and  rode  away  with  him.  The  Knights 
of  the  Round  Table  marvelled  greatly  at  all  this, 
and  the  more  so  on  seeing  that  he  who  occupied 
that  chair  of  peril  was  one  so  tender  of  age,  and 
a  youth  whom  no  one  knew,  nor  whence  he  came ; 
but  to  one  another  they  privately  said, — 

"This  is  he  by  whom  the  Sangreal  shall  be 
achieved ;  for  none  ever  sat  there  before  but  Per- 
civale,  and  he  was  not  long  deemed  worthy  to 
occupy  that  seat." 

The  talk  of  this  strange  event  quickly  passed 
through  the  palace,  and  came  to  the  queen,  who 
heard  it  with  wonder.  Those  who  brought  word 
said  that  the  youth  resembled  Sir  Lancelot. 

"  I  must  see  this  strange  thing,"  she  said,  and, 
followed  by  her  ladies,  she  entered  the  hall. 

"  It  is  Sir  Lancelot  in  youth  again,"  she  cried, 
on  looking  the  young  knight  in  the  face.  "  Fair 
sir,  tell  me  truly,  what  father  had  you,  and  what 
mother." 

"  King  Pellam  is  my  grandsire,"  answered  Ga- 
lahad, "  and  Elaine  was  my  mother.  As  for  my 
father,  I  know  him  not." 

"  Then  do  I,"  cried  the  queen,  "  for  he  sits  be- 
side you  Sir  Lancelot  is  your  father.  Ton 
B  3 


26       THE  QUEST  OP  THE  HOLY  GRAIL 

are  son  unto  the  noblest  knight  that  ever  wore 
sword." 

At  these  words  Lancelot  rose  up  in  haste,  for 
he  had  not  dreamed  of  what  was  to  come ;  and 
he  clasped  the  youth  in  his  arms  and  kissed  his  fair 
young  face  with  a  love  that  overflowed  his  heart. 

"My  son!"  he  said.  "Can  it  be?  Greatly, 
indeed,  have  I  felt  drawn  unto  you." 

"  And  my  heart  went  out  to  you,  dear  father," 
said  Galahad,  "  from  the  moment  I  looked  upon 
your  noble  face." 

The  sight  of  this  affecting  meeting  filled  all 
hearts  there  with  joy,  and  the  king  warmly  con- 
gratulated Lancelot  on  having  found  so  worthy  a 
son ;  "  for  to  him,  I  dare  avow,"  he  said,  "  is  des- 
tined that  great  achievement  of  the  Sangreal  of 
which  you  have  this  day  told  us." 

Then  Arthur  took  Galahad  by  the  hand,  and 
said, — 

"Come  with  me,  young  sir,"and  led  him  from 
the  palace  to  the  river  to  show  him  the  marvel 
of  the  stone.  After  them  followed  the  knights, 
and  the  queen  and  ladies  of  the  court,  all  full  of 
hope  of  greater  wonders  yet  to  come. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  king,  "  that  sword  floated  hither 
this  day.  Many  knights  of  great  prowess  have 
tried  to  draw  it  and  failed." 

"That  is  no  marvel,"  said  Galahad.  "The 
sword  is  not  theirs,  but  mine.  And  since  I  knew 
it  awaited  me  I  have  brought  no  sword ;  but  its 
tcabbard,  as  you  may  see,  hangs  by  my  side  " 


THE   MABVEL   OF   THE    FLOATING   SWORD.         27 

Then  he  laid  his  hand  upon  the  sword,  and, 
while  all  eyes  opened  wide  with  wonder,  drew  it 
from  the  stone  as  easily  as  if  it  came  from  the 
water  only,  and  thrust  it  into  the  scabbard,  saying 
to  the  king, — 

"  It  fits  there  better  than  in  a  floating  stone." 

"  God  has  sent  it  you,"  said  the  king.  "  And  I 
doubt  not  he  will  send  you  a  shield  in  as  marvel- 
lous a  manner." 

"  This  is  the  sword  that  at  one  time  belonged 
to  Balin  le  Savage,"  said  Galahad,  "  and  with 
which  he  killed  his  brother  Balan,  in  that  terri- 
ble joust  which  happened  many  years  ago.  The 
scabbard  I  wear  was  Balm's  scabbard,  and  it  was 
Merlin  who  put  the  sword  into  that  stone,  saying 
that  no  hand  should  draw  it  but  that  of  Lancelot, 
or  his  son  Galahad.  Nor  can  any  man  have  for- 
gotten the  dolorous  stroke  which  Balin  dealt  my 
grandfather  King  Pellam,  of  which  he  is  not  yet 
healed,  nor  shall  be  till  I  heal  him.  So  has  Mer- 
lin prophesied." 

As  they  talked  thus  a  lady  on  a  white  palfrey 
was  seen  riding  down  the  river  side  to  where  they 
stood.  Reaching  the  group,  she  saluted  the  king 
and  queen,  and  asked  if  Sir  Lancelot  were  there. 

"  I  am  here,  fair  lady,"  he  answered. 

"  Sad  is  it,"  she  said,  while  tears  flowed  from 
her  eyes,  "  that  all  your  great  renown  is  changed 
since  this  day's  dawn." 

"  Damsel,  why  say  you  this  ?" 

"  Until  to-day  you  were  the  best  knight  in  the 


28       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 

world,"  she  answered.  "  But  he  who  should  say 
this  now  would  speak  falsely,  for  there  has  come 
a  better  than  you.  And  this  is  proved  by  the 
adventure  of  the  sword  to  which  you  dared  not 
set  your  hand.  Kemember  well  what  I  have 
said." 

"  As  touches  that,"  rejoined  Lancelot,  "  I  never 
had  the  pride  of  being  the  best  knight  in  the 
world,  nor  do  I  envy  my  son  if  any  worship  has 
passed  from  me  to  him." 

"Yet  you  were  the  greatest ;  and  still  are 
among  sinful  men,"  she  persisted.  "And,  sir 
king,"  she  said  to  Arthur,  "  this  more  I  am  bid 
to  say,  from  the  holy  lips  of  Nancien  the  hermit, 
that  to  you  shall  fall  to-day  the  greatest  of  honors ; 
for  this  day  the  Sangreal  shall  appear  in  your 
palace,  and  feed  you  and  all  your  fellowship  of 
the  Bound  Table." 

With  these  words  she  turned  her  palfrey  and 
rode  away  as  she  had  come,  leaving  all  who  had 
heard  her  lost  in  wonder  and  admiration. 

When  they  had  a  little  got  over  their  wonder 
at  what  they  had  seen,  the  king  gave  orders  that 
the  stone  should  be  taken  from  the  water,  saying 
that  he  would  have  it  set  up  as  a  monument  of 
those  strange  events. 

"And  as  it  may  be  long  before  you  all  come 
together  here  again,  I  should  like  to  have  you 
joust  in  the  meadow  of  Camelot,  by  way  of  honor 
to  this  day." 

Thus  he  spoke ;  but  his  real  purpose  was  to  see 


THE   MARVEL   OP   THE   FLOATING   SWORD.         29 

Galahad  proved,  for  he  feared  that  if  he  once  left 
the  court  it  might  be  long  before  he  should  see 
him  again.  Then  the  knights  put  en  their  armor 
and  rode  to  the  meadow  in  a  gallant  cavalcade. 
Galahad  also,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  king, 
put  on  armor,  but  he  would  take  no  shield,  though 
the  king  and  Lancelot  prayed  him  to  do  so.  The 
most  he  would  consent  to  do  was  to  take  a  spear. 

But  noble  work  he  did  that  day,  meeting  all 
men  who  cared  to  break  spears  with  him,  so  that 
by  the  end  of  the  joust  he  had  thrown  down 
many  good  Knights  of  the  Bound  Table.  Only 
two  of  them,  Lancelot  and  Percivale,  were  able 
to  keep  their  seats  against  the  vigorous  onset  of 
the  strong  young  knight. 

When  the  jousting  was  at  an  end,  the  king  and 
knights  went  back  to  Camelot,  where  they  at- 
tended even-song  at  the  great  minster.  Thence 
they  proceeded  to  the  palace  hall,  where  all  took 
their  seats  at  the  table  for  supper. 

But  as  they  sat  eating,  there  came  outside  a 
terrible  crash  of  thunder,  and  a  wind  arose  that 
seemed  as  if  it  would  rend  the  great  hall  from  its 
foundations.  In  the  midst  of  this  blast  the  hall 
was  lighted  by  a  sudden  gleam  seven  times 
brighter  than  the  midday  light,  in  whose  glare 
the  knights  sat  dumb,  none  daring  to  speak.  But 
each  looked  at  the  others,  and  it  seemed  to  each 
that  his  fellows  were  fairer  of  visage  than  he  had 
ever  seen  them  before. 

Then  the  storm  and  the  glare  passed  away  as 
8* 


30       THI  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

suddenly  as  they  had  come,  and  there  entered  the 
hall  the  holy  grail.  None  there  saw  it,  for  it  was 
covered  with  white  samite,  but  the  hall  was  filled 
with  the  rarest  odors,  and  each  knight  saw  on  the 
table  before  him  the  meats  and  drinks  that  he 
loved  best  in  the  world. 

When  the  holy  vessel  had  passed  through  the 
hall,  it  suddenly  vanished,  none  knew  how.  And 
not  till  then  dared  any  man  speak. 

"  Certes,"  said  the  king,  "  we  ought  to  thank 
God  devoutly  for  what  he  has  shown  us  this  day." 

"  We  have  enjoyed  the  richest  of  perfumes,  and 
have  before  us  the  rarest  of  food,"  said  Gawaine ; 
"  and  we  have  but  one  thing  to  regret,  that  the 
sacred  vessel  was  so  preciously  covered  that  no 
eye  might  behold  it.  But  this  miracle  has  filled 
my  soul  with  the  warmest  desire  to  see  this  holy 
thing,  and  I  therefore  vow  that  to-morrow,  with- 
out delay,  I  shall  set  out  in  quest  of  the  Sangreal, 
and  shall  not  return  hither  till  I  have  seen  it  more 
openly,  if  it  take  me  a  twelvemonth  or  more.  If 
I  fail  in  the  end,  I  shall  return  as  one  who  is  not 
worthy  to  behold  the  holy  vessel." 

On  hearing  these  words  the  other  knights  arose 
as  one  man,  and  repeated  the  vow  which  Gawaine 
had  made. 

Upon  this,  King  Arthur  sprang  to  his  feet  in 
deep  displeasure,  for  there  came  to  his  mind  like 
a  vision  a  host  of  evil  consequences  from  this  in- 
considerate vow. 

"You  are  over-hasty,  Gawaine,"  he  said,  sharply, 


HOW    GALAHAD    GOT    HIS    SHIELD.  31 

"and  have  done  me  a  lifelong  evil  with  youi 
vow.  For  you  have  bereft  me  of  the  fairest  fel- 
lowship that  ever  came  together  in  this  world. 
When  my  knights  depart  hence  on  that  difficult 
search,  well  I  know  that  they  will  never  all  meet 
again  in  this  world,  for  many  shall  die  in  the 
quest.  Therefore  it  distresses  me  deeply,  for  I 
have  loved  them  as  I  loved  my  life,  and  I  would 
rather  have  my  soul  depart  from  my  body  than 
to  lose  their  noble  fellowship.  Long  have  we 
dwelt  together  in  sorrow  and  in  joy,  but  I  fear 
our  happy  days  are  at  an  end,  and  that  trouble 
and  suffering  await  us  in  the  time  to  come.  What 
God  wills  must  be,  but  my  heart  is  sore  at  the 
thought  of  it." 

And  men  who  looked  upon  the  king  could  see 
tears  of  distress  and  grief  flowing  from  his  eyes. 


CHAPTER  m. 

HOW   GALAHAD    GOT    HIS   SHIELD. 

WHEN  morning  came  the  knights  made  ready 
for  their  departure,  amid  the  tears  and  lamenta- 
tions of  ladies,  and  with  the  deep  sorrow  of  the 
king  and  queen.  For  there  were  a  hundred  and 
fifty  of  them  in  all,  comprising  the  whole  fellow- 
ship of  the  Table  Eound,  and  King  Arthur  had  deep 
reason  for  his  fear  that  he  would  never  gather  all 


32       THE  QUEST  OP  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

these  gallant  knights  round  his  festal  board  again. 
And  so  they  mounted  and  rode  through  the  streets 
of  Camelot,  where  was  weeping  of  rich  and  poor, 
and  the  king  turned  away  and  could  not  speak 
for  grief,  while  Queen  Guenever  hid  herself  in 
her  chamber,  to  be  alone  with  her  bitter  sorrow 
at  the  going  of  Lancelot. 

Onward  they  rode  in  company  until  they  came 
to  a  castle  and  town  that  were  named  Vagon. 
There  they  stopped  and  were  well  entertained  by 
the  lord  of  the  castle,  who  was  a  man  of  great 
hospitality.  But  when  morning  came  it  was  de- 
cided between  them  that  they  should  separate, 
each  taking  his  own  course,  so  that  the  Sangreal 
might  be  sought  in  all  quarters.  This  they  did 
with  much  sorrow  and  many  fervent  farewells, 
each  knight  taking  the  way  that  he  liked  the 
best,  and  riding  alone  and  afar  on  his  perilous 
quest. 

First  must  we  follow  the  young  knight  Galahad, 
who  still  rode  without  a  shield,  and  who  passed 
onward  for  four  days  without  an  adventure.  Neai 
eventide  of  the  fourth  day  he  came  to  a  white 
abbey,  where  he  was  received  with  great  respect, 
and  led  to  a  chamber  that  he  might  lay  off  his 
armor.  And  here,  to  his  surprise,  he  met  with 
two  of  the  goodly  company  from  which  he  had 
lately  parted,  Sir  Uwaine  and  King  Bagdemagus. 

"Sirs,"  said  Galahad,  "what  adventure  brought 
you  hither?" 

"  We  are  told,"  they  replied,  "  that  within  this 


HOW   GALAHAD   GOT   HIS   SHIELD.  33 

place  is  a  shield  of  perilous  significance.  For  he 
who  bears  it  about  his  neck  runs  deep  risk  of 
being  slain  within  three  days,  or  maimed  forever. 
Yet,"  said  Bagdemagus,  "  I  shall  bear  it  to-mor- 
row and  try  my  fortune." 

"In  the  name  of  God,  try  it,"  said  Galahad. 
"  Yet  truly  you  take  a  great  risk." 

"  If  I  fail  therein,  you  shall  take  the  adventure. 
I  am  sure  you  will  not  fail." 

"  I  agree  to  that,"  said  Galahad.  "  I  have  rid- 
den far  enough  without  a  shield." 

Then  they  went  to  supper,  and  afterwards  to 
sleep.  When  morning  came  Bagdemagus  asked 
of  the  abbot  where  the  magic  shield  was,  and  a 
monk  led  him  behind  an  altar  where  hung  a  shield 
as  white  as  snow,  but  with  a  red  cross  in  its  centre. 

"  I  hope  you  are  well  advised  of  what  you  do," 
said  the  monk.  "No  knight,  unless  he  be  the 
worthiest  in  the  world,  can  safely  bear  this 
shield." 

"I  know  well  that  I  am  not  the  best  of 
knights,"  said  Bagdemagus ;  "  and  yet  I  shall  wear 
it  and  dare  the  danger." 

Then  he  took  it  out  of  the  monastery,  and  said 
to  Galahad, — 

"  If  it  please  you,  await  me  here  till  you  learn 
how  I  shall  speed." 

"  I  shall  await  tidings,"  said  Galahad. 

Bagdemagus  now  rode  forward  with  a  squire, 
that  he  might  send  back  tidings  of  his  good  or  ill 
fortune,  and  passed  onward  for  two  miles,  when  he 
VOL.  III.— o 


34       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  GRAIL 

found  himself  in  a  valley  before  a  hermitage. 
Here  he  saw  a  stalwart  knight  in  white  armor, 
horse  and  all,  who,  on  seeing  the  red-cross  shield, 
rode  upon  him  at  the  full  speed  of  his  charger. 
Bagdemagus  put  his  spear  in  rest  and  rode  to 
meet  him,  but  his  spear  broke  on  the  white 
knight,  while  he  was  wounded  in  the  right 
shoulder  and  borne  from  his  horse,  the  treacherous 
shield  refusing  to  cover  him.  Then  the  victor 
knight  alighted  and  took  the  white  shield  from 
him,  saying,— 

"Sir  knight,  you  have  acted  with  more  folly 
than  wisdom,  for  you  should  have  known  that 
only  he  who  has  no  peer  living  can  safely  bear 
this  shield." 

Then  he  went  to  the  squire  who  had  come  with 
King  Bagdemagus,  and  said, — 

"  Bear  this  shield  to  the  good  knight  Sir  Gala- 
had, whom  you  left  in  the  abbey,  and  greet  him 
from  me." 

"  What  shall  I  tell  him  is  your  name  ?" 

"  Take  no  heed  of  my  name.  That  is  not  for 
you  to  know,  nor  for  any  earthly  man.  Content 
yourself  with  telling  Sir  Galahad  that  this  shield 
is  for  him,  and  for  no  other  man  to  wear.  And 
may  God  aid  him  to  bear  it  worthily  and  worship- 
fully." 

But  the  squire  went  first  to  Bagdemagus  and 
asked  him  if  he  were  seriously  wounded. 

"  Forsooth  I  am,"  he  said.  "  I  shall  scarce 
escape  from  death." 


HOW   OALAHAD   GOT   H.8   SHIELD.  35 

The  squire  then  conveyed  him  in  great  pain  to 
the  hermitage,  and  left  him  in  care  of  the  hermit. 
And  as  the  chronicle  tells,  he  lay  there  long,  and 
barely  escaped  with  life. 

"  Sir  Galahad,"  said  the  squire,  when  he  had 
returned  to  the  abbey,  "  King  Bagdemagus  has 
paid  dearly  for  his  venture.  He  lies  at  a  hermi- 
tage sorely  wounded.  As  for  you,  the  knight 
that  overthrew  him  sends  you  greeting,  and  bids 
you  to  bear  this  shield,  through  which  marvellous 
adventures  shall  come  to  you." 

"  Then  blessed  be  God  and  fortune,"  said  Gala- 
had. 

He  now  resumed  his  arms  and  mounted  his 
horse,  hanging  the  white  shield  about  his  neck 
and  commending  himself  to  God.  Uwaine  offered 
to  bear  him  company,  but  this  was  not  to  be. 

"  Sir  knight,"  said  Galahad,  "  I  thank  you  for 
your  offer,  but  I  must  go  alone,  save  that  this 
squire  shall  bear  me  fellowship." 

With  these  words  the  youthful  knight  rode 
away,  and  soon  came  to  where  the  white  knight 
abode  by  the  hermitage.  They  saluted  each  other 
courteously,  and  fell  into  a  conversation  in  which 
the  white  knight  told  Galahad  the  story  of  the 
magical  shield. 

"In  the  far  past  time,"  he  said,  "soon  after 
Joseph  of  Arimathea  took  down  the  body  of  our 
Lord  from  the  holy  cross,  and  bore  it  from  Jeru- 
salem to  a  city  named  Sarras,  there  was  a  king 
of  Sarras  named  Evelake,  who  was  then  at  war 


86       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  QBAIL. 

with  the  Saracens.  This  king,  through  the 
teachings  of  Joseph,  was  converted  from  the  old 
law  to  the  new,  and  for  him  this  shield  was  made, 
in  the  name  of  Him  who  died  on  the  cross. 
Afterwards,  when  Evelake  was  in  battle,  the 
shield  was  covered  with  a  cloth,  which  was  only 
removed  in  times  of  deadly  peril,  and  then  his 
enemies  saw  the  figure  of  a  man  on  the  cross, 
before  which  the}'  fell  back  discomfited.  At 
times  the  cross  of  the  shield  would  vanish  away, 
and  at  times  stand  out  clear  and  bright;  and 
such  was  its  virtue  that  a  soldier  whose  hand  was 
stricken  off  was  made  whole  again  by  touching 
the  cross.  The  time  came  at  length  when  Joseph 
left  Palestine  and  journeyed  westward,  and  King 
Evelake  with  him,  till  they  camo  to  Great  Britain, 
where  all  the  people  had  been  pagans,  but  were 
then  converted  to  the  Christian  faith.  Soon 
afterwards  Joseph  sickened  and  came  near  to 
death,  and  while  he  lay  in  his  bed  he  bade  Eve- 
lake  bring  him  the  shield,  and  on  it  he  traced  a 
red  cross  with  his  own  blood.  Then  he  said  to  Eve- 
lake,  '  No  man  hereafter  shall  bear  this  shield  but 
he  shall  repent  it,  until  Galahad,  the  last  of  my 
lineage,  shall  come  to  seek  it,  and  with  it  he  shall 
do  marvellous  deeds.'  '  Where  shall  the  shield 
await  his  coming  ?'  asked  Evelake.  '  You  shall 
leave  it  in  the  abbey  where  Nancien  the  hermit 
shall  lie  after  his  death,  and  thither  the  knight 
Galahad  shall  come  for  it  soon  after  he  receives 
the  order  of  knighthood.'  This  is  the  story  of 


HOW   GALAHAD   GOT   HIS   SHIELD.  37 

the  shield,  and  this  day  has  the  prediction  been 
fulfilled.  Wear  the  shield  worthily  and  well, 
young  knight,  for  much  glory  and  renown  shall 
come  to  you  through  it.  You  are  in  God's  hands ; 
to  God  commend  yourself." 

With  these  words  the  white  knight  vanished 
away,  and  in  the  place  where  he  had  stood  was 
seen  but  empty  air. 

Then  the  squire,  who  had  heard  these  words, 
alighted  and  kneeled  at  Galahad's  feet,  praying 
that  he  would  make  him  a  knight. 

"  That  I  shall  consider,"  said  Galahad.  "  But 
now  let  us  return  to  the  abbey." 

Here  Galahad  drove  away  a  fiend  that  had  long 
dwelt  in  a  tomb  near  by,  where  it  made  such 
noise  that  none  could  venture  near  it.  But  the 
virtue  of  the  shield  protected  him  from  all  harm 
from  this  evil  shape,  which  was  forced  to  depart. 

When  morning  came,  he  asked  the  young  squire 
his  name. 

"Sir,"  he  answered,  "men  call  me  Melias  de 
Lile,  and  I  am  the  son  of  the  king  of  Denmark." 

"  Then,  fair  sir,  since  you  come  of  kings  and 
queens,  I  shall  make  you  a  knight ;  and  look  you 
that  knighthood  sit  well  on  you,  for  you  should 
be  a  mirror  of  chivalry." 

"  That  shall  I  seek  to  be,"  said  Melias. 

Then  Galahad  gave  him  the  accolade  as  he 
kneeled  before  him,  and  bade  him  rise  a  knight. 

"  Now,  dear  sir,"  said  Melias,  "  since  you  have 
done  me  this  high  honor,  it  is  but  right  that 


38  THE   QUEST   OP  THE   HOLY   GRAIL. 

you  grant  mo  my  first  request,  so  that  it  be  in 
reason." 

"  You  speak  justly,"  said  Galahad. 

"  I  beg,  then,  that  you  let  me  ride  with  you  in 
the  quest  of  the  Sangreal  till  some  adventure 
shall  part  us." 

"  That  I  grant  willingly." 

Armor  was  now  brought  to  Melias,  and  when  it 
had  been  girded  upon  him  he  and  Galahad  rode 
away,  and  passed  onward  all  that  week  without  an 
adventure.  But  on  the  Monday  next,  as  they  set 
out  from  an  abbey,  they  came  to  where  a  cross 
marked  a  parting  of  the  road.  On  the  cross  was 
written, — 

"  Ye  knights-errant,  that  ride  in  quest  of  adveii 
tures,  here  lie  two  ways.  He  that  takes  the  right- 
hand  road  shall  not  leave  it  again,  if  he  be  a  good 
man  and  a  worthy  knight.  He  that  takes  the 
left-hand  shall  not  lightly  win  fortune,  for  his 
strength  and  endurance  will  be  soon  tried." 

"  If  you  will  suffer  me  to  take  the  left-hand 
road  I  should  like  it  greatly,"  said  Melias.  "  My 
strength  and  skill  need  trial." 

"  It  were  better  not.  I  fancy  that  I  only  should 
face  the  danger  that  there  confronts  us." 

"  Nay,  my  lord,  I  pray  you  let  me  have  this 
adventure." 

"  Take  it,  then,  in  God's  name,"  said  Galahad  ; 
"  and  do  your  duty  worthily." 

So  Melias  rode  forward  and  soon  found  himself 
in  a  forest,  through  which  he  passed  for  two  days. 


HOW   GALAHAD   GOT   HIS   SHIELD.  39 

seeing  there  neither  man,  woman,  nor  child.  Then 
he  came  from  the  forest  into  a  broad  meadow, 
where  stood  a  lodge  built  of  green  boughs.  And 
in  that  lodge  was  a  chair,  on  which  lay  a  crown 
of  gold  wrought  with  rich  and  subtle  skill.  Also 
there  were  cloths  spread  upon  the  earth,  upon 
which  delicious  meats  were  laid. 

Melias  beheld  all  this  and  thought  it  marvellous. 
He  felt  no  hunger,  but  the  crown  of  gold  roused 
his  covetousness,  and  he  took  it  up  and  rode  away 
with  it.  But  not  far  had  he  ridden  when  a  knight 
came  after  him,  who  said, — 

"  Sir  knight,  why  have  you  taken  that  crown  ? 
It  is  not  yours ;  therefore  defend  yourself." 

Then  Melias  blessed  himself,  and  said, — 

"  Fair  Lord  of  Heaven,  help  and  save  thy  new 
made  knight." 

Then  they  rode  together  at  full  speed,  but 
Melias's  prayer  availed  him  naught,  for  the  spear- 
head of  the  other  went  through  his  hauberk,  and 
wounded  him  so  deeply  in  the  left  side  that  L« 
fell  to  the  earth  like  a  dead  man.  Then  the  victor 
knight  took  the  crown  and  rode  away. 

But  with  wise  forethought  Galahad  had  fol- 
lowed Melias,  and  now  rode  into  the  valley,  where 
he  found  him  in  peril  of  death. 

"  Ah,  Melias  !"  he  cried,  "  better  for  you  had  you 
taken  the  other  way.  Who  has  done  you  this 
harm  ?" 

"  For  God's  love,  let  me  not  die  in  this  place !" 
said  Melias  in  reply.  "Bear  me  to  some  abbey 


40       THE  QUEST  OP  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

near  by,  where  I  may  be  confessed  and  have  the 
rites  of  the  church." 

"It  shall  be  done,"  said  Galahad.  "  But  where 
is  he  who  has  wounded  you  ?" 

The  reply  came  from  the  edge  of  the  forest, 
where  Galahad  heard  a  voice  cry  in  stirring 
tones, — 

"  Knight,  defend  yourself  from  me." 

"Beware,  sir,"  warned  Melias.  "He  it  is  that 
has  left  me  thus." 

"  Sir  knight,"  said  Galahad,  "  come  on  at  your 
peril." 

Then  they  rode  together  as  fast  as  their  horses 
2ould  run,  and  Galahad  drove  his  spear  through 
the  shoulder  of  his  opponent,  hurling  him  from 
his  horse.  But  in  his  fall  the  spear  broke.  Then, 
before  the  young  knight  could  turn,  another  knight 
rode  from  under  the  leaves  and  broke  his  spear 
upon  him. 

At  this  treacherous  act  Galahad  drew  his  sword 
in  wrath,  and  with  a  keen  blow  smote  off  the  left 
arm  of  his  antagonist,  whom  he  pursued  into  the 
forest. 

He  soon  returned,  however,  and  took  up  Melias 
gently,  for  the  truncheon  of  the  spear  was  in  his 
body,  and  bore  him  on  his  horse  in  his  arms  to  an 
abbey  near  at  hand.  Here  the  wounded  knight 
was  unarmed  and  laid  upon  a  bed,  where  the  rites 
of  the  church  were  administered  to  him. 

"  Sir  Galahad,"  he  then  said,  "  let  death  come 
when  it  will,  I  am  at  peace  with  God."  And  he 


HOW   GAlcAHAD   GOT   HIS   SHIELD.  41 

drew  the  truncheon  of  the  spear  from  his  body, 
and  swooned  away. 

But  an  old  monk  who  stood  there,  and  who  was 
a  skilful  leech,  examined  the  wound,  and  said, 
"  He  need  not  die.  By  the  grace  of  God  I  hope 
to  heal  him  of  this  wound  within  seven  weeks." 

This  gladdened  Galahad,  and  he  remained  at  the 
abbey  three  days  to  see  how  Melias  should  fare. 
Then  he  asked  him  how  it  stood  with  him. 

"  I  feel  now  as  if  I  may  live,"  he  answered. 

"  God  be  thanked  for  that,"  said  Galahad.  "  Now 
must  I  depart,  for  I  have  much  to  do,  and  the  quest 
of  the  Sangreal  will  not  permit  long  leisure  and 
delay." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  monk,  "  it  is  for  his  sin  this 
knight  is  so  bitterly  wounded.  He  took  on  him 
the  high  order  of  knighthood  without  clean  con- 
fession, which  was  a  sinful  thing  to  do.  As  for 
the  two  ways  to  which  you  came,  the  way  on  the 
right  betokens  the  highway  of  righteousness,  and 
the  way  on  the  left,  which  he  chose,  betokens  that 
of  sinners  and  infidels.  And  when  the  devil  saw 
his  presumption  in  taking  the  quest  of  the  Sangreal 
without  being  worthy  of  it,  he  caused  his  over- 
throw. And  when  he  took  the  crown  of  gold  he 
sinned  in  covetousness  and  theft.  As  for  you,  Sir 
Galahad,  the  two  knights  with  whom  you  fought 
signify  the  two  deadly  sins  which  abide  in  Sir 
Melias.  But  they  could  not  withstand  you,  for 
you  are  without  deadly  sin." 

' God  send  I  may  keep  so,"  said  Galahad.  "  Now 
4* 


42       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 

must  I  depart.  I  pray  you  do  your  utmost  for 
this  knight." 

"  My  Lord  Galahad,"  said  Melias,  "  I  shall  get 
well,  and  shall  seek  you  as  soon  as  I  can  ride." 

"  God  grant  you  speedy  health,"  said  Galahad, 
and  he  left  the  room  and  sought  his  horse,  and 
rode  away  alone. 

After  he  had  ridden  for  days  in  various  direc- 
tions, it  chanced  that  he  departed  from  a  place 
called  Abblasoure,  where  he  had  heard  no  mass, 
as  was  his  daily  custom.  But  ere  the  day  was 
old,  he  came  to  a  mountain,  on  which  he  found 
a  ruined  chapel,  and  here  he  kneeled  before  the 
altar,  and  besought  God's  counsel.  And  as  he 
prayed  he  heard  a  voice  that  said,  "  Go  now,  thou 
adventurous  knight,  to  the  Castle  of  Maidens,  and 
do  away  with  the  wicked  customs  which  there  are 
kept." 

When  Galahad  heard  this  he  took  his  horse  and 
rode  away,  full  of  gladness  that  he  might  thus 
serve  God.  And  not  long  nor  far  had  he  ridden 
before  he  saw  in  a  valley  before  him  a  strong 
castle,  with  high  towers  and  battlements  and  deep 
ditches ;  and  beside  it  ran  a  broad  river,  named 
the  Severn. 

Here  he  met  an  aged  man,  whom  he  saluted, 
and  asked  the  castle's  name. 

"It  is  the  Castle  of  Maidens,"  said  the  old 
man. 

"  Then  it  is  a  cursed  castle,  and  an  abode  of 
sin,"  said  Galahad  ''  All  pity  is  wanting  within 


HOW   GALAHAD   GOT    HIS   SHIELD.  43 

those  walls,  and  evil  and  hardness  of  heart  there 
have  their  abode." 

"  Then,  sir  knight,  you  would  do  well  to  turn 
and  leave  it." 

"  That  shall  I  not,"  said  Galahad.  "  I  have  come 
here  to  punish  the  evil-doers  that  there  abide." 

Leaving  the  old  man,  he  rode  forward,  and  soon 
met  with  seven  fair  maidens,  who  said  to  him, — 

"  Sir  knight,  you  ride  in  folly,  for  you  have  the 
water  to  pass." 

"  And  why  should  I  not  pass  the  water  ?"  asked 
Galahad. 

He  continued  his  ride,  and  next  met  a  squire, 
who  said, — 

u  Sir  knight,  I  bring  you  defiance  from  the 
knights  in  the  castle,  who  forbid  you  to  go  farther 
till  they  learn  your  purpose." 

"  You  may  tell  it  to  them,  if  you  will.  I  come 
to  destroy  the  wicked  customs  of  this  castle." 

"  Sir,  if  you  abide  by  that,  you  will  have  enough 
to  do." 

"  Go  now  and  bear  them  my  answer." 

Then  the  squire  returned  to  the  castle,  from 
which  there  soon  after  rode  seven  knights,  in  full 
armor.  When  they  saw  Galahad  they  cried, — 

"  Knight,  be  on  your  guard,  for  you  have  come 
to  your  death." 

"  "What  1"  asked  Galahad, "  will  you  all  assail  me 
at  once  ?" 

'  That  shall  we  ;  so  defend  yourself." 

Then  Galahad  rode  against  them  and  smote  the 


44  THE   QUEST   OP   THE   HOLY   GRAIL. 

foremost  such  a  blow  that  he  nearly  broke  bis 
neck.  The  others  rode  on  him  together,  each 
striking  his  shield  with  might.  But  their  spears 
broke  and  he  still  held  his  seat. 

He  now  drew  his  sword,  and  set  upon  them  with 
such  energy  that,  many  as  they  were,  he  put  them 
all  to  flight,  chasing  them  until  they  entered  the 
castle,  and  following  them  within  its  walls  till  they 
fled  from  the  castle  by  another  gate. 

Galahad  was  now  met  by  an  old  man,  clad  in 
religious  costume,  who  said  to  him, — 

"  Sir,  here  are  the  keys  of  the  castle." 

Then  the  victor  ordered  that  all  the  gates  should 
be  thrown  open,  and  in  the  streets  of  the  neighbor- 
ing town  were  crowds  of  people,  crying  gladly, — 

"  Sir  knight,  you  are  heartily  welcome.  Long 
have  we  waited  for  the  deliverance  which  you 
bring  us." 

And  a  gentlewoman  came,  who  said  to  him, — 

"These  knights  are  fled,  but  they  will  come 
again.  Therefore,  sir,  I  counsel  you  to  send  for 
all  the  knights  that  hold  their  lands  of  this  castle, 
and  make  them  swear  to  restore  the  old  customs, 
and  do  away  with  the  evil  practices  which  these 
villanous  knights  have  fostered." 

"  That  is  good  counsel,"  said  Galahad. 

Then  she  brought  him  a  horn  of  ivory,  richly 
adorned  with  gold,  and  said, — 

"  Blow  this  horn  loudly.  It  will  be  heard  two 
miles  and  more  from  the  castle,  and  all  that  hear 
it  will  come." 


HOW    GALAIIAD    GOT   HIS   SHIELD.  45 

Galahad  took  the  horn,  and  blew  so  loud  a 
blast  that  the  very  trees  shook  therewith,  Then 
he  seated  himself  and  waited  to  see  what  would 
come  from  the  summons.  As  he  sat  there  a  priest 
came  to  him  and  said, — 

"  Sir  knight,  for  seven  years  these  brethren  have 
held  the  castle,  whose  lord,  Duke  Lianor,  they 
killed,  and  held  his  daughter  prisoner  j  and  by 
force  they  have  kept  all  the  knights  of  the  castle 
under  their  power,  and  have  acted  as  tyrants,  rob- 
bing the  common  people  of  all  they  had,  and  tak- 
ing tribute  and  demanding  service  from  all  the 
country  round.  Seven  years  ago  the  duke's  daugh- 
ter said  to  them,  '  You  shall  not  hold  this  castle 
for  many  years,  for  by  one  knight  you  shall  be 
overcome.'  '  Say  you  so,'  they  replied.  '  Then  shall 
never  knight  or  lady  pass  this  castle,  but  all  that 
come  shall  stay  or  lose  their  heads,  till  comes  that 
knight  of  whom  you  prophesy.'  Therefore  this  is 
called  the  Maidens'  Castle,  since  its  tyrants  have 
BO  long  made  war  upon  maidens." 

"  Is  the  duke's  daughter  still  here  ?" 

u  No ;  she  died  three  days  after  the  castle  was 
taken.  But  her  younger  sister  and  many  other 
ladies  are  held  prisoners." 

Soon  afterwards  the  knights  of  the  country 
began  to  flock  in,  in  response  to  the  bugle-call, 
and  glad  were  they  to  find  what  had  occurred. 
Galahad  made  them  do  homage  and  fealty  to  the 
duke's  daughter,  which  they  did  with  great  wil- 
lingness of  heart. 


46  TH*   QUEST  OP   THE   HOLT   GRAIL. 

And  when  the  next  day  dawned  great  news 
was  brought  in,  for  a  messenger  came  to  Galahad 
and  told  him  that  the  seven  felon  brothers  had 
been  met  by  Gawaine,  Gareth,  and  Uwaine,  and 
all  slain. 

"  So  ends  their  rule  and  power,"  said  Galahad, 
fervently.  "  It  is  well  done,  and  well  are  all  here 
delivered." 

Then  he  commended  them  to  God,  and  took  his 
armor  and  horse,  and  rode  away  amid  the  prayers 
of  those  he  had  delivered. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  TEMPTATION   OF   SIR   PERCIVALE. 

MANY  adventures  had  the  other  knights  thai 
set  out  in  search  of  the  Sangreal,  and  much  re- 
proof did  many  of  them  receive  for  the  evil  lives 
they  had  led  ;  but  all  this  we  cannot  stop  to  tell, 
but  must  confine  ourselves  to  the  deeds  of  a  few 
only.  As  for  Sir  Gawaine,  he  parted  from  Gareth 
and  Uwaine  after  they  had  slain  the  seven  wicked 
knights  of  the  Castle  of  Maidens,  and  rode  from 
Whitsuntide  to  Michaelmas  without  an  adventure. 
Then  came  a  day  in  which  he  met  Sir  Hector  de 
Maris,  and  glad  were  both  at  the  meeting. 

"Truly,"  said  Gawaine,  "I  am  growing  weary 
of  this  quest." 


TH«   TEMPTATION   OF   SIR   PEBCIVALE.  47 

"  And  I  as  well,"  said  Hector.  "  And  of  the 
twenty  knights  I  have  met  from  time  to  time, 
they  all  complain  as  we  do." 

"  Have  you  met  with  Lancelot  ?" 

"  No ;  nor  with  Percivale,  Bors,  or  Galahad.  I 
can  learn  nothing  of  these  four." 

"  They  are  well  able  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves," said  Gawaine.  "  And  if  they  fail  to  find 
the  Sangreal,  it  is  waste  of  time  for  the  rest  of  us 
to  seek  it,  for  outside  of  them  there  is  little  virtue 
in  the  Eound  Table  fellowship." 

Afterwards  these  two  knights  went  far  in  com- 
pany, and  had  strange  dreams  and  visions,  the 
meaning  of  which  was  expounded  to  them  by  the 
hermit  Nancien.  This  holy  man  also  reproved 
Gawaine  severely  for  his  evil  life,  and  bade  both 
him  and  his  companion  to  give  up  the  search  for 
the  Sangreal,  as  that  high  achievement  was  not 
for  hands  like  theirs. 

Soon  after  they  met  an  armed  knight  in  the 
road,  who  proffered  to  joust  with  them.  Gawaine 
accepted  the  challenge,  and  rode  against  this  un- 
known opponent,  dealing  him  so  severe  a  blow  that 
he  was  hurled  from  his  horse  with  a  mortal  wound. 
But  when  they  had  removed  his  helmet,  what  was 
their  horror  to  find  that  it  was  their  friend  and 
comrade,  TJwaine. 

"  Alasl"  cried  Gawaine,  "  that  such  a  fatal  mis- 
adventure should  have  befallen  me  I  I  would 
sooner  have  died  myself." 

"Thus  ends  my  quest  of  the  Sangreal,"  said 


48       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

Uwaine.  "And  thus  will  end  that  of  many  a 
noble  knight.  Dear  friends,  commend  me  to  King 
Arthur,  and  to  my  fellows  of  the  Bound  Table,  anH 
sometimes  think  of  me  for  old  brotherhood's  sake." 

And  he  died  in  their  arms,  leaving  them  plunged 
in  the  deepest  grief,  from  which  they  were  long  in 
recovering. 

Meanwhile  Lancelot  and  Percivale  rode  far  in 
company,  and  many  things  happened  to  them. 
While  journeying  through  a  strange  region  they 
met  an  unknown  knight,  whom  they  challenged 
to  joust.  But  the  event  turned  out  little  to  their 
satisfaction,  for  Lancelot  was  hurled  to  the  ground, 
horse  and  man,  and  Percivale  received  so  fierce  a 
sword-blow  that  he  would  have  been  slain  had  not 
the  sword  swerved. 

Then  the  victor  knight  rode  rapidly  away, 
leaving  them  to  recover  as  they  best  could.  But 
a  recluse  near  whose  hut  this  encounter  had  taken 
place  told  them  that  the  victor  was  Sir  Galahad. 
On  learning  this  they  pursued  him  at  all  speed, 
but  in  vain. 

Percivale  now  turned  back  to  question  the 
recluse  further,  but  Lancelot  kept  on,  passing 
through  waste  and  forest  till  he  came  to  a  stone 
cross  at  the  parting  of  two  ways. 

Near  by  was  a  ruined  chapel,  with  broken  door, 
and  other  signs  of  waste  and  decay,  as  if  it  had 
been  long  deserted.  But  when  he  looked  within 
he  saw  to  his  great  surprise  a  high  altar  richly 
dressed  with  cloth  of  white  silk,  on  which  stood 


THE   TEMPTATION   OP   SIR   PERCIVALB.  49 

a  lofty  candelabra  of  silver  which  bore  six  great 
candles,  all  lighted. 

Lancelot  sought  to  enter  the  chapel,  but  try  as 
he  would  he  could  not  pass  the  broken  door,  nor 
find  entrance  elsewhere.  Some  invisible  power 
seemed  to  stand  between  him  and  admission  to 
that  sacred  place. 

Then,  out  of  heart  at  this  ill  success,  he  took 
off  his  helm  and  sword,  relieved  his  horse  of 
saddle  and  bridle,  and  lay  down  to  sleep  before 
the  cross.  Night  came  upon  him  as  he  lay  there, 
and  with  the  night  came  strange  visions. 

For  as  he  lay  but  half  asleep  he  saw  a  sick 
knight  brought  thither  in  a  litter.  This  knight 
prayed  earnestly  for  aid  in  his  affliction,  and  as 
he  did  so  Lancelot  saw  the  silver  candlestick  come 
from  the  chapel  to  the  cross,  and  after  it  a  table 
of  silver  on  which  was  the  holy  grail.  The  sick 
knight  crawled  painfully  to  it  on  his  hands  and 
knees,  and  raised  himself  so  as  to  touch  and 
kiss  the  sacred  vessel.  No  sooner  had  he  done  so 
than  he  grew  whole  and  sound,  with  all  his  pain 
and  sickness  gone,  and  rose  to  his  feet  with  his 
former  strength  and  vigor. 

"  Lord,  I  thank  thee  deeply,' '  he  said ;  "  for  through 
thy  infinite  grace  I  am  healed  of  my  affliction." 

Then  the  holy  vessel  returned  to  the  chapel, 
and  Lancelot  strove  hard  to  rise  and  follow  it. 
But  his  limbs  were  powerless,  and  he  lay  like  one 
chained  to  the  ground. 

He  now  fell  into  deep  slumber,  and  waked  not 
VOL.  III.— c  d  5 


50  THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLT   GRAIL. 

till  near  morning.  And  as  he  raised  himself  and 
Bat  on  the  ground  he  heard  a  voice  in  the  air, 
that  seemed  to  come  from  no  earthly  lips. 

"  Sir  Lancelot,"  it  said,  "  more  hard  than  is  the 
stone,  more  bitter  than  the  wood,  more  bare  than 
the  barren  fig-tree,  arise  and  go  from  hence,  and 
withdraw  thyself  from  this  holy  place." 

Lancelot  arose  with  a  heavy  heart,  for  the  sense 
of  these  words  sank  deeply  within  him.  But  when 
he  sought  his  horse  and  helm  and  sword  he  found 
they  were  gone,  for  they  had  been  taken  by  the 
knight  whose  healing  he  had  seen. 

Deeply  depressed  and  unhappy  at  this  misfor- 
tune, he  left  the  cross  on  foot,  and  wandered  on- 
ward till  he  came  to  a  hermitage  on  a  high  hill. 

Here  he  told  the  hermit  what  had  happened  to 
him,  and  confessed  all  the  evil  deeds  of  his  life, 
saying  that  he  had  resolved  to  be  a  different  man 
from  what  he  had  been,  and  to  live  a  higher  life 
than  that  of  doing  deeds  of  arms  that  men  might 
applaud. 

Then  the  holy  man  gave  him  absolution,  with 
injunctions  of  penance,  and  prayed  that  he  would 
abide  with  him  all  that  day.  This  Lancelot  did, 
talking  much  with  him  upon  his  sins,  and  repent- 
ing sincerely  the  worldly  life  he  had  led. 

Meanwhile  Percival  had  returned  to  the  recluse, 
and  questioned  her  as  to  how  he  should  find  Gala- 
had. 

"  That  I  cannot  surely  tell,"  she  said.  "  Ride 
hence  to  a  castle  which  is  called  Goothe,  where  he 


THE   TEMPTATION   OF   SIE   PEBCIVALE.  51 

has  a  cousin-german.  If  he  can  give  you  no 
tidings,  then  rido  straight  to  the  castle  Carbonek, 
where  the  maimed  king  lies,  and  there  you  shall 
hear  sure  tidings  of  him." 

Percivale,  leaving  her,  rode  onward  till  eventide, 
and  as  he  looked  around  him  for  shelter  he  heard 
a  clock  strike  loud  and  clear.  He  now  perceived 
before  him  a  mansion,  with  lofty  walls  and  deep 
ditches.  Here  he  knocked  loudly,  and  was  let  in 
without  delay. 

After  laying  off  his  armor,  he  was  led  to  the 
supper  hall,  where  he  was  well  served,  and  after- 
wards spent  the  night  in  comfort.  When  morn- 
ing dawned  he  entered  the  chapel  for  the  mass, 
and  found  there  a  priest  ready  at  the  altar.  On 
the  right  side  was  a  pew  closed  with  iron,  and 
behind  the  altar  a  rich  bed,  covered  with  cloth  of 
silk  and  gold.  On  this  bed  lay  a  person  with 
covered  visage,  so  that  he  could  not  tell  if  it  were 
man  or  woman. 

After  the  service  was  over  the  occupant  of  the 
bed  sat  up  and  threw  back  the  covering,  and  then 
Percivale  saw  that  it  was  a  man  of  very  great 
age,  on  whose  head  was  a  crown  of  gold.  But 
his  shoulders  and  body  to  the  middle  were  unclad, 
and  were  covered  with  wounds,  as  were  also  his 
arms  and  face. 

To  all  seeming  he  might  have  been  three  hun 
dred  years  of  age,  for  so  venerable  a  face  Perci- 
vale had  never  gazed  upon,  and  as  he  sat  up  he 
prayed  fervently,  with  joined  hands.  When  the 


52       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 

mass  was  over  the  priest  bore  the  sacrament  to 
the  sick  king.  And  when  he  had  used  it,  he 
took  off  his  crown  and  commanded  it  to  be  set 
on  the  altar.  Then  he  lay  down  again. 

Percivale  now  asked  one  of  the  attendants  who 
this  venerable  man  was. 

"You  have  heard  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea," 
was  the  reply,  "  and  how  he  came  into  this  land 
to  convert  the  heathen.  With  him  came  a  king 
named  Evelake,  whom  he  had  converted  in  the 
city  of  Sarras,  in  Palestine.  This  king  afterwards 
had  an  earnest  desire  to  be  where  the  Sangreal 
was,  and  on  one  occasion  he  ventured  so  nigh  it 
that  God  was  displeased  with  him,  and  struck  him 
almost  blind.  Then  King  Evelake  prayed  for 
mercy  and  pardon,  and  begged  that  he  might  not 
die  until  he  who  was  to  achieve  the  Sangreal 
should  come,  that  he  might  see  him  and  kiss  him. 
There  answered  him  a  voice  that  said :  '  Thy 
prayers  are  heard ;  thou  shalt  not  die  till  he  has 
kissed  thee.  And  when  he  comes  thy  eyes  shall 
be  opened  to  see  clearly,  and  thy  wounds  shall  be 
healed ;  but  not  until  then.'  So  King  Evelake 
has  lived  in  this  mansion  for  three  hundred  win- 
ters, waiting  for  the  coming  of  the  knight  who 
shall  heal  him.  Now,  sir,  will  you  tell  me  what 
knight  you  are,  and  if  you  are  of  the  Bound  Table 
fellowship  ?" 

"That  am  I,  and  my  name  is  Percivale  de 
Galis." 

On  hearing  this  the  good  man  welcomed  Per- 


THE  TEMPTATION    OP   SIB   PEBCIVALE.  53 

civale  warmly,  and  pressed  him  to  remain.  But 
the  knight  replied  that  he  could  not,  for  his  duty 
led  him  onward. 

Percivale  now  left  the  chapel,  and,  arming  him- 
self, he  took  his  horse  and  rode  onward.  And 
that  day  more  strange  things  happened  to  him 
than  we  have  space  to  tell.  Not  far  had  he  ridden 
when  he  met  twenty  men-at-arms,  who  bore  on  a 
bier  a  dead  knight.  On  learning  that  he  was  from 
King  Arthur's  court,  they  assailed  him  fiercely, 
killed  his  horse,  and  would  have  slain  him ;  but 
when  he  was  at  the  worst  strait  a  knight  in  red 
armor  came  hastily  to  his  rescue,  and  rode  fiercely 
on  the  assailants. 

He  attacked  these,  indeed,  with  such  fury  that 
many  of  them  were  soon  stretched  on  the  ground  ; 
while  the  others  fled  into  a  thick  forest,  whither 
they  were  hotly  pursued  by  their  assailant. 

On  seeing  him  thus  ride  away,  Percivale  was 
deeply  grieved,  for  he  well  knew  his  rescuer  was 
Galahad,  and  he  had  no  horse  to  follow  him. 

He  went  forward  as  fast  as  he  could  on  foot,  and 
had  not  gone  far  when  he  met  a  yeoman  riding  on 
a  hackney,  and  leading  a  great  war-horse,  blacker 
than  any  bear. 

Percivale  begged  that  he  would  lend  him  this 
horse,  that  he  might  overtake  a  knight  before  him. 
But  this  the  yeoman  refused,  saying  that  the  owner 
of  the  horse  would  slay  him  if  he  should  do  so. 

Not  long  afterwards,  as  Percivale  sat  woebegone 
beneath  a  tree,  an  armed  knight  came  riding  past 
6* 


54  THE   QUEST   OF  THE   HOLY    GRAIL. 

on  the  black  horse,  pursued  by  the  yeoman,  who 
called  him  robber,  and  moaned  bitterly  that  hia 
master  would  kill  him  for  the  loss  of  his  charge. 

"  Lend  me  your  hackney,"  said  Percivale ;  "  1 
may  get  you  your  horse  again." 

This  the  yeoman  gladly  did,  and  Percivale  pur- 
sued the  robber  knight,  loudly  bidding  him  to 
stand  and  deliver. 

The  knight  at  this  turned  and  rode  fiercely 
upon  him,  but  directed  his  spear  against  the  horse 
instead  of  the  rider,  striking  it  in  the  breast,  so 
that  it  fell  to  the  earth. 

He  now  rode  away,  without  heeding  Percivale's 
angry  demand  that  he  should  stop  and  fight  it  out 
on  foot.  When  the  dismounted  knight  found  that 
Jiis  antagonist  would  not  turn,  he  was  so  filled 
with  chagrin  that  he  threw  away  his  helm  and 
sword,  and  raved  like  one  out  of  his  wits.  Thus 
he  continued  till  night  came  on,  when  he  lay  down 
exhausted  and  fell  into  a  deep  slumber. 

Near  the  midnight  hour  he  suddenly  awakened, 
and  saw  in  the  road  before  him  a  woman,  who 
said, — 

"  Sir  Percivale,  what  do  you  here  ?" 

"  I  do  neither  good  nor  ill,"  he  replied. 

"  You  need  a  horse,"  she  said.  "  If  ycu  will 
promise  to  do  my  will  when  I  shall  summon  you, 
I  will  lend  you  mine.  You  will  find  him  no 
common  one '' 

"  I  promise  that,"  cried  Percivale.  "  I  would 
do  much  for  a  horse  just  now." 


THE   TEMPTATION   OF   SIR   PERCIVALE.  55 

"Wait,  then;  I  shall  fetch  you  the  noblest 
animal  you  ever  bestrode." 

She  departed,  but  quickly  came  again,  leading 
a  horse  of  midnight  blackness,  and  richly  ap- 
parelled for  knightly  service. 

Percivale  looked  at  it  with  admiration.  He  had 
not  hoped  for  so  great  and  noble  a  steed  as  this. 
Thanking  her  warmly,  ho  sprang  to  his  feet,  leaped 
to  the  saddle,  and  put  spurs  to  the  horse,  from 
whose  nostrils  fire  seemed  to  glare. 

Away  went  the  black  horse  under  the  moon- 
light, making  such  marvellous  strides  that  it 
seemed  to  leave  the  earth  behind  it  in  its  magical 
progress.  With  such  wondrous  speed  did  it  go 
that  in  an  hour  it  had  made  a  four  days'  journey. 
Then  it  came  to  the  brink  of  a  great  body  of 
water,  whose  waves  foamed  and  leaped  boister- 
ously against  the  shore. 

When  Percivale  saw  the  heaving  waves,  which 
stretched  far  away  under  the  moonlight,  he  drew 
with  all  his  force  upon  the  rein  ;  but  the  fiendish 
brute  which  he  rode  heeded  not  his  hand,  but  bore 
him  madly  to  the  brink.  Fear  and  doubt  now 
filled  the  knight's  mind,  and  with  a  hasty  impulse 
he  made  the  sign  of  the  cross.  At  this  the  beast 
roared  loudly  in  rage,  while  flame  a  foot  long 
poured  from  its  nostrils,  and  with  a  wild  rear  it 
shook  off  its  rider,  and  plunged  madly  into  the 
wild  billows.  And  the  showering  drops  which  fell 
upon  Percivale  from  the  plunge  burnt  like  sparks 
of  fire. 


56  THE    QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY    GRAIL. 

"  God  be  thanked  that  I  am  here  alive,"  crieJ 
the  knight,  fervently.  "  I  have  ridden  the  foul 
fiend  in  the  image  of  a  horse,  and  barely  have 
I  escaped  perdition." 

Then  he  commended  himself  to  God,  and  prayed 
earnestly  to  the  Lord  to  save  him  from  all  such 
perils  and  temptations.  He  continued  in  prayer 
all  the  remainder  of  that  night  until  the  next  day 
dawned  upon  the  earth. 

When  sunrise  came  he  looked  heed  fully  about 
him,  anxious  to  learn  whither  he  had  been  borne 
by  the  unholy  brute.  To  his  surprise  and  alarm 
he  found  himself  in  a  wild  waste,  which  was  closed 
in  on  one  side  by  the  sea,  and  on  the  other  by 
a  range  of  rough  and  high  mountains,  impass- 
able to  human  feet;  a  land  that  seemed  with- 
out food  or  shelter,  and  the  lurking-place  of  wild 


He  trembled  with  fear  on  seeing  this,  and  went 
forward  with  doubtful  steps.  Not  far  had  he  gone 
before  he  saw  a  strange  thing,  for  a  great  serpent 
passed  near  him,  bearing  a  young  lion  by  the 
neck.  Fiercely  after  it  came  a  great  lion,  roaring 
with  rage,  and  fell  upon  the  serpent,  which  turned 
in  defence,  so  that  a  mighty  battle  was  waged 
before  the  knight. 

"  By  my  faith,"  he  cried,  "  the  lion  is  the  most 
natural  beast  of  the  two,  and  it  fights  for  its 
young.  The  lion  it  is  my  duty  to  help." 

He  drew  his  sword  with  these  words  and  struck 
the  serpent  so  fierce  a  stroke  that  it  fell  dead. 


THE   TEMPTATION   OF   SIR    PERCIVALI.  57 

Then  he  turned  his  shield  against  the  lion,  but  as 
the  latter  made  no  show  of  fighting  him,  but 
fawned  upon  him  with  every  mark  of  joy  and 
gratitude,  he  cast  down  his  shield  and  removed 
his  helm,  and  sat  there  stroking  the  neck  and 
shoulders  of  the  beast. 

Until  noon  he  comforted  himself  with  the  fel- 
lowship of  the  lion.  Then  it  took  up  its  whelp 
and  bore  it  away,  leaving  Percivale  alone.  But 
he  was  not  unhappy,  for  he  believed  fervently  in 
God,  and  prayed  with  all  earnestness  that  he  might 
be  saved  from  unholy  things,  and  chosen  as  a 
champion  of  right  and  truth. 

When  night  came,  Percivale,  to  his  joy,  saw  the 
lion  coming  towards  him.  It  crouched  at  his  feet 
like  a  spaniel,  and  all  that  night  the  lion  and  the 
knight  slept  in  company,  his  head  being  pillowed 
on  the  shoulder  of  the  beast. 

But  during  the  night  a  strange  dream  came  to 
him.  He  seemed  to  see  two  women,  one  of  whom 
was  young,  and  rode  upon  a  lion,  and  the  other 
was  old,  and  sat  upon  a  gliding  serpent.  And  the 
younger  spoke  to  him  as  follows, — 

"  Sir  Percivale,"  she  said,  "  my  lord  salutes  you, 
and  sends  a  warning  to  you  to  make  ready,  for  to- 
morrow you  will  have  to  fight  with  the  strongest 
champion  in  the  world.  And  if  overcome  you 
will  be  shamed  to  the  world's  end." 

"  Who  is  your  lord  ?"  he  asked. 

"  The  greatest  lord  in  all  the  world,"  she  said  ; 
and  then  suddenly  vanished. 


58       THE  QUEST  OP  THE  HOLT  GBAIL. 

Then  came  the  lady  upon  the  serpent,  and 
said, — 

"  Sir  Percivale,  I  have  done  you  no  harm,  and 
yet  you  have  worked  me  injury." 

"What  have  I  done?  I  have  been  always 
heedful  to  offend  no  lady." 

"  I  have  long  nourished  here  a  great  serpent, 
and  yesterday  you  killed  it  for  seeking  its  prey. 
Why  did  you  this  ?  The  lion  was  not  in  your 
care." 

"  I  aided  the  lion  because  it  was  a  nobler  beast 
than  the  serpent.  In  that  I  did  nothing  against 
you." 

"  You  did  me  a  great  wrong,  and  in  return  for 
this  injury  I  demand  that  you  become  my  man." 

"  That  shall  I  never  be,"  he  answered. 

"  Beware,  then,  proud  knight,  who  pride  your- 
self on  your  piety.  You  have  robbed  me  of  that 
which  I  loved ;  take  heed  that  I  catch  you  not 
unawares,  or  mine  you  shall  be,  body  and  soul." 

With  these  words  she  departed,  and  Percivale 
finished  his  sleep  without  further  vision.  In  the 
morning,  when  he  awoke,  he  felt  feeble.  And  as 
he  rose  and  blessed  himself  he  saw  not  far  off  in 
the  sea  a  ship  that  sailed  towards  him.  As  it  came 
near  he  perceived  it  to  be  covered  within  and  with- 
out with  white  samite,  while  on  the  deck  stood  an 
old  man  dressed  in  a  surplice  like  a  priest. 

"  Sir,"  said  Percivale,  "  you  are  welcome." 

"  God  keep  you,"  said  the  old  man ;  "  whence 
come  you  ?" 


THE   TEMPTATION   OF   SIB   PERCIVALE.  59 

"  1  am  of  King  Arthur's  court,  and  a  Knight  of 
the  Bound  Table,  and  am  in  quest  of  the  SangreaL 
But  here  I  find  myself  in  a  wilderness,  with  no 
hope  of  escape." 

"  Doubt  not,  if  you  be  a  true  knight." 

<(  Who  are  you  ?"  asked  Percivale. 

"  I  have  come  hither  from  a  strange  country  to 
comfort  you,"  said  the  old  man. 

"  Then,  sir,  can  you  tell  me  what  my  dream 
signifies  ?"  and  Percivale  related  what  had  befallen 
him. 

"  That  can  I,"  said  the  old  man.  "  She  that  rode 
on  the  lion  betokens  the  new  law  of  holy  church, 
and  she  came  through  love,  to  warn  you  of  the 
great  battle  that  is  before  you." 

"With  whom  shall  I  fight?"  asked  Perci- 
vale. 

"With  the  strongest  champion  of  the  world, 
and  if  you  fail  in  the  fight  you  shall  not  escape 
with  the  loss  of  a  limb,  but  shall  be  shamed 
to  the  world's  end.  As  for  her  that  rode  on  the 
serpent,  she  betokens  the  old  law.  Heed  her  not. 
The  serpent  you  slew  betokens  the  devil  that  you 
rode  hither,  and  whom  you  overcame  by  the  sign 
of  the  cross.  Yield  not  to  her  or  any  of  her 
kindred,  or  worse  will  befall  you." 

Then  the  ship  turned  and  sailed  away,  leaving 
P°rcivale  again  alone.  But  when  he  went  up  the 
rocks  he  found  there  the  lion,  which  he  stroked 
and  made  joyful  fellowship  with. 

A.nd  thus  time  went  on  till  midday.    Then  Per- 


60  THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLT   GRAIL. 

civale  saw  a  ship  approaching  with  such  speed  a* 
if  all  the  winds  in  the  world  had  driven  it.  On 
it  kept  till  it  reached  land  at  the  beach  below  him. 
He  hurried  hopefully  to  meet  it,  and  saw  that  it 
was  covered  with  black  silk,  while  on  the  deck 
stood  a  lady  of  great  beauty,  who  was  dressed  in 
the  richest  apparel. 

"  What  brought  you  into  this  wilderness  ?"  she 
cried  to  the  knight.  "  Here  you  are  likely  to  die 
of  hunger,  for  no  man  may  cross  yonder  rocks 
and  escape." 

"  I  serve  the  best  master  in  the  world,"  said 
Percivale.  "  He  will  not  suffer  harm  to  come  to 
me." 

"  Sir  Percivale,"  said  she,  "  know  you  who  I 
am?" 

"  Who  taught  you  my  name  ?"  he  answered. 

"I  know  you  better  than  you  deem,"  she  re- 
plied, laughing.  "  This  much  I  may  tell  you,  that 
not  long  since  I  was  in  the  waste  forest,  where  I 
saw  the  red  knight  with  the  white  shield." 

"Ah!  is  that  so?  Fain  would  I  meet  with 
him." 

"  I  shall  bring  you  to  him ;  but  only  on  cove 
nant  that  you  will  come  to  my  aid  when  I  summon 
you." 

"  If  it  be  in  reason  and  uprightness,  you  may 
trust  me,"  he  replied. 

"  I  saw  him,"  she  continued,  "  chase  two  knights 
into  the  stream  that  is  called  Mortaise,  and  follow 
them  into  the  water.  But  they  passed  over,  and 


THE   TEMPTATION   OF   SIR   PERCIVALS.  61 

his  horse  was  drowned,  and  only  by  his  great 
strength  he  got  safe  to  land  again." 

"  That  I  am  very  glad  to  hear.  It  would  have 
been  a  sad  day  had  that  good  knight  been 
drowned." 

"  You  look  pale  and  thin,"  she  remarked. 
"  Have  you  eaten  lately  ?" 

"  Not  these  three  days,"  he  answered.  "  Yet  I 
spoke  of  late  with  a  good  man,  whose  words  re- 
freshed me  as  if  I  had  partaken  of  rich  viands." 

"  Ah,  sir  knight,"  she  said,  "  beware  of  that  old 
man.  I  know  him  better  than  you.  He  is  a  false 
enchanter,  who  seeks  your  harm.  If  you  heed 
his  words  shame  will  be  your  lot,  and  you  will  die 
on  this  rock  and  be  devoured  by  wild  beasts.  I 
am  here  to  help  you  in  your  need,  for  I  am  not 
content  to  see  so  good  a  knight  come  to  harm  and 
disgrace." 

"  Who  are  you,"  asked  Percivale,  "  that  proffer 
me  so  great  a  kindness  ?" 

"  Once  I  was  the  richest  woman  in  the  world," 
she  answered.  "Now  I  am  disinherited  and  in 
want." 

"  Then  I  pity  you  greatly.  "Who  is  it  that  has 
disinherited  you  ?" 

"  I  dwelt  with  the  greatest  man  in  the  world," 
she  answered,  "  and  to  him  I  owe  my  beauty, — a 
beauty  of  which  I  was,  alas  I  too  proud.  Then  1 
said  that  which  offended  him  deeply,  and  he  drove 
me  away  from  him,  and  robbed  me  of  my  heritage, 
and  has  never  since  had  pity  for  me  nor  for  my 
6 


62  THE  QUEST   OP  THE   HOLT   GRAIL. 

friends.  Since  this  has  happened  I  have  done  my 
best  to  wean  his  men  from  him,  and  many  of  them 
now  cling  to  me,  and  I  and  they  war  against  him 
day  and  night.  I  know  no  good  knight,  nor  good 
man,  but  that  I  strive  to  win  him  to  my  side,  and 
all  such  I  repay  well  for  their  services.  For  he 
against  whom  I  wage  war  is  strong,  and  I  need 
all  the  aid  to  be  had.  Therefore,  since  I  know 
you  for  a  valiant  knight,  I  beseech  you  to  help 
me.  A  fellow  of  the  Round  Table  cannot,  under 
his  vow,  fail  any  woman  that  is  disinherited,  and 
that  seeks  his  aid." 

"  That  is  true,  indeed,"  said  Percivale,  "  and  I 
shall  do  all  I  can  for  you." 

"  You  have  my  earnest  thanks,"  she  said. 

Then,  as  the  weather  was  hot,  she  called  some 
of  her  attendants,  and  bade  them  bring  a  pavilion 
and  set  it  up  on  the  gravel  near  the  sea-line. 

"  Sir  knight,"  she  said,  "  I  pray  you  to  rest  here 
in  the  heat  of  the  day,  while  my  attendants  pre- 
pare food  for  you." 

He  thanked  her  and  laid  aside  his  helm  and 
shield,  and  fell  asleep  within  the  pavilion,  where 
he  slumbered  long.  When  he  awoke  he  asked  her 
if  the  food  was  ready. 

"Yes,"  she  answered;  "I  have  worked  while 
you  slumbered." 

Then  a  table  was  set  within  the  pavilion,  and 
covered  with  a  rich  array  of  meats  and  drinks, 
of  which  Percivale  ate  with  great  appetite,  whiJe 
the  lady  sat  opposite  him  with  a  very  gracious 


THE   TEMPTATION   OF   SIR   PEBOIYALX.  63 

aspect.  The  wine  he  drank  was  the  strongest 
that  had  ever  passed  his  lips,  and  its  strength 
soon  got  into  his  veins  and  heated  his  brain. 

The  lady  now  smiled  graciously  upon  him,  and 
it  seemed  to  him  that  he  had  never  beheld  so  fair 
a  creature.  Her  beauty  so  worked  upon  his 
heated  blood,  indeed,  that  he  proffered  her  his 
love,  and  prayed  earnestly  for  hers  in  return. 

When  she  saw  his  loving  ardor,  and  that  the 
wine  worked  like  fire  in  his  blood,  she  said,  with 
a  smile  of  witchery, — 

"  Sir  Percivale,  if  I  become  yours,  you  must 
become  mine.  I  shall  not  grant  you  my  love 
unless  you  swear  that  henceforth  you  will  be  my 
true  servant,  and  do  nothing  but  what  I  shall 
command.  Will  you  thus  bind  yourself,  as  you 
are  a  true  knight  ?" 

"That  will  I,  fair  lady,  by  the  faith  of  my 
body." 

"  Then  this  I  will  say,  that  of  all  the  knights 
in  the  world  you  are  he  whom  I  most  love.  And 
you  may  seal  upon  my  lips  the  compact  we  have 
made." 

But  when  Percivale  came  towards  her,  to  claim 
the  proffered  kiss,  which  she  offered  with  such 
bewitching  grace,  by  chance  or  through  God's 
aid  he  saw  his  sword,  which  lay  on  the  ground  at 
his  feet,  and  in  its  pommel  a  red  cross,  with  the 
sign  of  the  crucifix  therein.  Then  came  to  his 
mind  the  promise  he  had  made  to  the  old  man, 
and  his  knightly  vows,  and  with  a  pious  impulse 


64       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  QUAIL. 

he  raised  his  hand  and  made  the  sign  of  the  cross 
on  his  forehead,  the  while  his  eyes  were  fixed  01 
the  lovely  face  of  the  tempter  before  him. 

As  he  did  so  her  smile  changed  to  a  look  of 
deadly  hate,  and  the  loveliness  of  her  face  to  a 
hideous  aspect,  while  in  the  same  moment  the 
pavilion  fell  as  before  a  great  wind,  and  then  van- 
ished in  smoke  and  cloud. 

Over  the  sea  the  wind  rose  and  roared,  and  as 
he  looked  he  saw  the  ship  battling  with  heaving 
waves,  while  the  water  seemed  to  burn  behind  it. 
On  the  deck  stood  the  lady,  who  cried, — 

"  Sir  Percivale,  you  have  betrayed  me  I  Beware, 
proud  knight,  I  shall  have  my  revenge."  Then 
the  ship  drove  out  to  sea,  and  vanished  from  his 
sight. 

But  in  a  passion  of  remorse  Percivale  snatched 
up  the  sword  that  lay  before  him,  and  crying. 
"  Since  my  flesh  has  been  my  master  I  will  punish 
it,"  he  drove  the  naked  blade  through  his  thigh, 
till  the  blood  spouted  out  like  a  fountain. 

"  "Wretch  that  I  am,  how  nearly  was  I  lost !" 
he  cried,  in  a  torment  of  conscience.  "  Fair  sweet 
Father,  Jesus  Christ  my  Lord,  let  me  not  be 
shamed,  as  I  would  now  have  been  but  for  thy 
good  grace.  Take  this  wound  in  recompense  for 
what  I  have  done  against  thee,  and  forgive  me 
my  deep  transgression,  I  humbly  pray  thee." 

But  as  he  lay  moaning  and  bleeding  the  wild 
winds  went  down  and  the  sea  grew  dmooth,  while 
ho  saw  coming  from  the  Orient  the  ship  with  the 


THE   TEMPTATION   OF   SIR   PEBOIVALE.  65 

good  man  on  board,  on  beholding  whom  he  fell 
into  a  swoon. 

When  he  awoke  he  found  that  his  wound  had 
been  dressed  and  the  bleeding  stopped.  Beside 
him  sat  the  good  man,  who  asked  him, — 

"  How  hast  thou  done  since  I  departed  ?" 

"  Weakly  and  wickedly  enough,"  he  answered. 
•'  A  witch  beguiled  me,  and  I  nearly  fell  a  victim 
to  her  wiles." 

"  Knew  you  her  not  ?" 

"  Only  that  I  deem  the  foul  fiend  sent  her  here 
to  shame  me." 

"  Worse  than  that,  good  knight.  Your  victory 
is  greater  than  you  deem.  That  seeming  woman 
who  deceived  you  was  no  less  an  adversary  than 
the  master-fiend  of  hell,  who  has  power  over  all 
the  lesser  devils,  and,  had  you  yielded,  you  had 
been  lost  forever.  For  this  is  the  mighty  cham- 
pion against  whom  you  were  forwarned ;  he  who 
was  once  the  brightest  angel  of  heaven,  and  was 
driven  out  by  our  Lord  Christ  for  his  sins,  and 
thus  lost  his  heritage.  But  that  the  grace  of  God 
was  on  your  side  you  would  have  fallen  before 
this  champion  of  evil.  Take  this,  Sir  Percivale, 
as  a  warning  and  an  example." 

With  these  words  the  good  man  vanished  away. 
Then  the  mariners  carried  the  wounded  knight 
on  board  their  ship,  and  set  sail,  bearing  him 
rapidly  away  from  that  scene  of  temptation  and 
victory. 

VOL.  III.— e  6* 


66  THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   GRAIL. 


CHAPTEK  V. 

THE   STRANGE   ADVENTURES   OF   SIR   BOR8. 

WHEN  Sir  Bors  parted  from  his  companions,  on 
the  quest  of  the  Sangreal,  not  far  had  he  gone 
when  he  met  a  religious  man  riding  on  an  ass, 
whom  he  courteously  saluted. 

"  Who  are  you  ?"  asked  the  good  man. 

"  I  am  one  of  those  knights  who  have  set  out  in 
quest  of  the  Sangreal,"  said  Bore.  "  I  would  fain 
have  your  counsel  in  this  high  duty,  for  great 
honor  shall  come  to  him  who  succeeds  therein." 

"  That  is  true,"  said  the  good  man.  "  He  that 
wins  the  Sangreal  will  be  counted  the  best  knight 
and  the  purest  soul  among  men.  None  can  hope 
to  attain  it  except  through  cleanness  of  spirit." 

Then  they  rode  together  till  they  came  to  a 
hermitage.  Here  Bore  went  into  the  chapel  with 
his  companion,  and  confessed  to  him,  and  ate 
bread  and  drank  water  with  him. 

"  Now,"  said  the  good  man,  "  I  charge  you  that 
you  take  no  other  food  than  bread  and  water  till 
you  sit  at  the  table  where  the  Sangreal  shall  be." 

"  To  that  I  agree.  But  how  know  you  that  I 
shall  ever  sit  there  ?" 

"  I  know  it,  let  that  suffice ;  but  few  of  your 
comrades  shall  have  that  honor." 


TfflB   8TRANOE   ADVENTURES   OP   SIR   BOBS.       67 

"  All  that  God  sends  me  will  be  welcome, '  said 
Bors 

"  Also,  instead  of  a  shirt,  and  in  token  of  chas- 
tisement, you  shall  wear  this  garment,"  and  the 
good  man  produced  a  scarlet  coat,  which  Bore 
promised  to  wear  next  his  skin  till  the  Sangreal 
should  be  won. 

Then,  after  further  wholesome  advice,  he  re- 
sumed his  armor  and  departed.  He  had  gone  but 
a  little  way  from  the  hermitage  when  he  passed  a 
tree  that  was  little  more  than  an  old  and  leafless 
trunk,  and  on  one  of  its  boughs  he  saw  a  great  bird, 
surrounded  by  young  that  were  nearly  dead  with 
hunger.  As  he  continued  to  look  at  this  strange 
sight,  the  bird  smote  itself  in  the  breast  with  its 
shai'p  beak,  and  bled  till  it  died  among  its  young. 
Then  the  young  birds  fed  on  their  mother's  blood, 
and  were  revived  thereby. 

This  to  Bors  seemed  full  of  deep  significance, 
and  he  pondered  deeply  upon  it  as  he  rode  onward. 
By  even-song  he  found  himself  near  a  strong  and 
high  tower,  where  he  asked  shelter  for  the  night, 
and  was  hospitably  welcomed. 

When  he  had  disarmed  he  was  led  to  a  richly 
furnished  apartment,  where  he  found  a  young  and 
fair  lady,  who  welcomed  him  gladly  to  her  tower, 
and  invited  him  to  take  supper  with  her. 

The  table  was  set  with  rich  meats  and  many 
dainties,  but  Bors  forgot  not  the  hermit's  charge, 
and  bade  an  attendant  to  bring  him  water.  In 
this  he  sopped  bread  and  ate  it. 


68       fHK  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

"How  is  this?"  asked  the  lady  in  surprise, 
"  Like  you  not  my  meat  ?" 

"  Truly  I  do,  madam  j  yet  I  may  eat  no  other 
food  this  day." 

Then  the  lady  was  silent,  for  she  feared  to  dis 
please  him  by  questioning.  After  supper,  while 
they  sat  talking,  a  squire  came,  who  said, — 

"  Madam,  you  know  well  what  is  set  for 
to-morrow.  You  must  provide  a  champion  to 
fight  in  your  quarrel  against  Pridam  le  Noire, 
or  your  sister  will  have  this  castle  and  all  your 
lands." 

"I  know  that,"  she  said,  with  a  deep  sigh. 
"  May  God  save  me  from  being  robbed,  for  I  see 
no  earthly  aid." 

Her  sorrow  touched  Bors,  who  asked, — 

"  What  means  this,  madam  ?" 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  "  I  shall  tell  you.  There  was 
formerly  a  king  named  Aniause,  who  owned  all 
these  lands.  By  chance  he  loved  my  sister,  who 
is  much  older  than  I, — and  much  wickeder  also,  I 
fear.  He  gave  her  this  land  to  govern ;  but  she 
brought  into  it  many  evil  customs,  and  caused  the 
death  of  many  of  his  kinsmen.  When  the  king 
saw  how  vilely  she  governed,  he  drove  her  away, 
and  put  me  over  this  district.  But  he  is  now 
dead,  and  she  is  making  war  on  me,  and  has 
destroyed  many  of  my  men,  and  turned  others 
from  me,  so  that  I  have  little  left  but  this  tower, 
and  the  few  men  that  guard  it.  Even  this  she 
now  threatens  to  take  from  me,  unless  I  can  find 


THE   STRANGE   ADVENTURES   Of   SIR  BORS.       69 

a  knight  to  fight  her  champion,  who  will  appear 
before  my  gates  to-morrow." 

"  Is  it  so  ?"  said  Bors.  "  Who  is  this  Pridam  le 
Noire?" 

"  He  is  the  most  stalwart  knight  in  this  country, 
and  has  no  equal  among  us." 

"  Madam,"  said  Bors,  "  you  have  given  me  shel- 
ter ;  in  return  I  shall  aid  you  as  far  as  I  can  in 
your  trouble.  You  may  send  word  that  you  have 
found  a  knight  who  will  fight  with  this  Pridam 
the  Black,  in  God's  quarrel  and  yours." 

"  Then  may  God's  blessing  rest  upon  you,"  she 
cried,  gladly.  And  word  was  sent  out  that  she 
had  found  a  champion  who  would  take  on  himself 
her  quarrel. 

That  evening  she  did  what  lay  in  her  power  to 
make  Bors  welcome,  and  sent  him  at  bedtime  to 
a  chamber  whose  bed  was  soft  as  down,  and  spread 
with  silken  coverings. 

But  in  no  bed  would  he  rest,  but  laid  himself 
on  the  floor,  as  he  had  vowed  to  do  till  he  found 
the  Sangreal. 

As  he  lay  there  asleep  there  came  to  him  a 
vision.  He  seemed  to  see  two  birds,  one  white  as 
a  swan,  the  other  of  smaller  size,  and  shaped  like 
a  raven,  with  plumage  of  inky  blackness.  The 
white  bird  came  to  him  and  said,  "  If  thou  wilt 
give  me  meat  and  serve  me,  I  shall  give  thee  all 
the  riches  of  the  world,  and  make  thee  as  fair  and 
white  as  I  am."  Then  the  white  bird  departed, 
and  f,he  black  bird  came  and  said,  "  I  beg  that  you 


70       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 

will  serve  me  to-morrow,  and  hold  me  in  no  de- 
Bpite ;  for  this  I  tell  you,  that  my  blackness  will 
avail  you  more  than  the  other's  whiteness."  And 
this  bird,  too,  departed. 

But  his  dream  continued,  and  he  seemed  to  come 
to  a  great  place,  that  looked  like  a  chapel.  Here 
he  saw  on  the  left  side  a  chair,  which  was  worm- 
eaten  and  feeble.  And  on  the  right  hand  were 
two  flowers  of  the  shape  of  a  lily,  and  one  would 
have  taken  the  whiteness  from  the  other  but  that 
a  good  man  separated  them,  and  would  not  let 
them  touch.  And  out  of  each  came  many  flowers 
and  plentiful  fruit.  Then  the  good  man  said, 
"  Would  not  he  act  with  great  folly  that  should 
let  these  two  flowers  perish  to  succor  the  rotten 
tree,  and  keep  it  from  falling  ?"  "  Sir,"  said  the 
dreamer,  "it  seems  to  mo  that  the  flower  is  of 
more  value  than  the  wood."  "  Then  take  heed 
that  you  never  choose  the  false  for  the  true." 

With  this  Bors  awoke,  and  made  the  sign  of 
the  cross  on  his  forehead,  and  then  rose  and 
dressed.  When  he  had  come  to  the  lady  she 
saluted  him,  and  led  him  to  a  chapel,  where  they 
heard  the  morning  service.  Quickly  afterwards 
there  came  a  company  of  knights  that  the  lady 
had  sent  for,  to  lead  her  champion  to  battle. 
After  he  had  armed,  she  begged  him  to  take  some 
strengthening  food. 

"Nay  madam,"  he  answered,  "  that  I  shall  not 
do  till  I  have  fought  this  battle,  in  which  I  ask 
but  God's  grace  to  aid  me." 


THE   STRANGE   ADVENTURES   OF   SIR   BOBS.       71 

This  said,  he  sprang  upon  his  horse,  and  set  out 
with  the  knights  and  men,  closely  followed  by  the 
lady  and  her  train.  They  soon  came  to  where 
the  other  party  were  encamped,  and  with  them 
the  lady  of  their  choice. 

"Madam,"  said  the  lady  of  the  tower,  "you 
have  done  me  great  wrong  to  take  from  me  the 
lands  which  King  Aniause  gave  me.  And  I  am 
sorry  that  there  should  be  any  battle." 

"  You  shall  not  choose,"  said  the  other,  "  unless 
you  withdraw  your  knight  and  yield  the  tower." 

"That  I  shall  not  do.  You  have  robbed  me 
enough  already." 

Then  was  the  trumpet  sounded,  and  proclama- 
tion was  made  that  whichever  champion  won  the 
battle,  the  lady  for  whom  he  fought  should  enjoy  all 
the  land.  This  done,  the  two  champions  drew  aside, 
and  faced  each  other  grimly  in  their  arm  or  of  proof. 

But  when  the  sound  for  the  onset  was  blown 
they  put  spurs  to  their  steeds,  which  rushed  to- 
gether like  two  lions,  and  the  knights  struck  each 
other  with  such  force  that  their  spears  flew  to 
pieces,  and  both  fell  to  the  earth. 

They  quickly  rose  and  drew  their  swords,  and 
hewed  at  each  other  like  two  woodmen,  so  that 
soon  each  was  sorely  wounded  and  bleeding  pro- 
fusely. Bors  quickly  found  that  he  had  a  stur- 
dier antagonist  than  he  expected,  for  Pridam  was 
a  strong  and  hardy  fighter,  who  stood  up  lustily 
to  his  work,  and  gave  his  opponent  many  a  sturdy 
blow. 


72       THE  QUEST  OP  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 

Bore,  perceiving  this,  took  a  new  course,  and 
played  with  his  antagonist  till  he  saw  that  he  was 
growing  weary  with  his  hard  work.  Then  he  ad- 
vanced upon  him  fiercely,  and  drove  him  step  by 
step  backward,  till  in  the  end  Pridam  fell.  Bora 
now  leaped  upon  him  and  pulled  so  strongly  upon 
his  helm  as  to  rend  it  from  his  head.  Then  he 
struck  him  with  the  flat  of  his  sword  upon  the 
cheek,  and  bade  him  yield,  or  he  would  kill  him. 

"  For  God's  love,  slay  me  not !"  cried  the  knight. 
44 1  yield  me  to  thy  mercy.  I  shall  swear  never 
to  war  against  thy  lady,  but  be  henceforth  her 
friend  and  protector." 

With  this  assurance,  Bors  let  him  live ;  while 
the  covetous  old  lady  fled  in  fear,  followed  by  all 
her  knights.  The  victorious  champion  now  called 
to  him  all  those  who  held  lands  in  that  estate,  and 
threatened  to  destroy  them  unless  they  would  do 
the  lady  such  service  as  belonged  to  their  holdings. 
This  they  swore  to  do,  and  there  and  then  paid 
homage  to  the  lady,  who  thus  came  to  her  own 
again  through  the  mighty  prowess  of  Sir  Bors  de 
Granis. 

Not  until  the  country  was  well  in  peace  did  he 
take  his  leave,  refusing  the  offers  of  wealth  which 
the  grateful  lady  pressed  upon  him,  and  receiving 
her  warm  thanks  with  a  humility  that  well  became 
him. 

Hardly  would  she  let  him  go  j  but  at  length  he 
bade  her  farewell,  and  rode  away  from  her  tears 
and  thanks.  On  he  journeyed  for  all  that  day, 


THE   STRANGE   ADVENTURES   OP   SIR   BOBS.       73 

and  till  midday  of  the  next,  when  he  found  him- 
self in  a  forest,  where  a  strange  adventure  befell 
him. 

For  at  the  parting  of  two  ways  he  met  two 
knights  who  had  taken  prisoner  his  brother 
Lionel,  whom  they  had  bound  all  naked  upon  a 
hackney,  while  they  beat  him  with  thorns  till  the 
blood  flowed  from  every  part  of  his  body.  Yet 
so  great  of  heart  was  he  that  no  word  came  from 
his  lips,  and  he  made  no  sign  of  pain. 

Bors,  seeing  this,  was  on  the  point  of  rushing 
to  his  rescue,  when  he  beheld  on  the  other  side  a 
knight  who  held  as  prisoner  a  fair  lady,  whom  he 
was  taking  into  the  thickest  part  of  the  forest  to 
hide  her  from  those  who  sought  her.  And  as  they 
went  she  cried  in  a  lamentable  voice, — 

"  Saint  Mary,  rescue  me  !  Holy  mother,  succor 
your  maid  I" 

When  she  saw  Bors  she  cried  out  to  him  griev- 
ously for  aid  and  rescue. 

"  By  the  faith  you  owe  to  the  high  order  of 
knighthood,  and  for  the  noble  King  Arthur's  sake, 
who  I  suppose  made  you  knight,  help  me,  gracious 
sir,  and  suffer  me  not  to  come  to  ghame  through 
this  felon  knight  I" 

On  hearing  this  appeal  the  distracted  knight 
knew  not  what  to  do.  On  one  side  his  brother  in 
danger  of  his  life ;  on  the  other  a  maiden  in  penl 
of  her  honor. 

"  If  I  rescue  not  my  brother  he  will  be  slain  ; 
and  that  I  would  not  have  for  the  earth.     Yet  if 
D  7 


74       THE  QUEST  OF  THB  HOLT  GRAIL. 

I  help  not  the  maiden,  I  am  recreant  to  my  vows 
of  knighthood,  and  to  my  duty  to  the  high  order 
Df  chivalry." 

Tears  ran  from  his  eyes  as  he  stood  in  cruel 
perplexity.  Then,  with  a  knightly  resolution,  he 
cried, — 

"  Fair  sweet  Lord  Jesus,  whose  liegeman  I  am, 
keep  Lionel  my  brother  that  these  knights  slay 
him  not ;  since  for  your  service,  and  for  Mary's 
sake,  I  must  succor  this  maid." 

Then  he  turned  to  the  knight  who  had  the 
damsel,  and  loudly  cried, — 

"  Sir  knight,  take  your  hands  from  that  maiden 
and  sot  her  free,  or  you  are  a  dead  man." 

On  hearing  this  the  knight  released  the  maiden 
as  bidden,  but  drew  his  sword,  as  he  had  no  spear, 
and  rode  fiercely  at  the  rescuer.  Bors  met  him 
with  couched  spear,  and  struck  him  so  hard  a 
blow  as  to  pierce  his  shield  and  his  hauberk  on 
the  left  shoulder,  beating  him  down  to  the  earth. 
On  pulling  out  the  spear  the  wounded  knight 
swooned. 

"  You  are  delivered  from  this  felon.  Can  I  help 
you  further?"  said  Bors  to  the  maiden. 

"  I  beg  you  to  take  me  to  the  place  whence  he 
carried  me  away." 

"  That  shall  I  do  as  my  duty." 

Then  he  seated  her  on  the  knight's  horse,  and 
conducted  her  back  towards  her  home. 

"You  have  done  nobly,  sir  knight,"  she  said. 
u  If  you  had  not  rescued  me,  five  hundred  men 


THE   STRANGE   ADVINTUBB8   OF   SIB   BOBS.       75 

might  have  died  for  this.  The  knight  you 
wounded  is  my  cousin,  who  yesterday  stole  me 
away  from  my  father's  house,  no  one  mistrusting 
him.  But  if  you  had  not  overcome  him,  there 
would  soon  have  been  others  on  his  track." 

Even  as  she  spoke  there  came  a  troop  of  twelve 
knights  riding  briskly  forward  in  seurch  of  her. 
When  they  found  her  delivered  their  joy  was 
great,  and  they  thanked  Bors  profusely,  begging 
him  to  accompany  them  to  her  father,  who  was  a 
great  lord,  and  would  welcome  him  with  gladness. 

"  That  I  cannot  do,"  said  Bors,  ''  much  as  I 
should  like  to ;  for  I  have  another  matter  of  high 
importance  before  me.  I  can  but  say,  then,  fare- 
well, and  God  be  with  you  and  this  fair  maiden." 

So  saying,  he  turned  and  rode  briskly  away, 
followed  by  their  earnest  thanks.  Beaching  the 
point  where  he  had  seen  Lionel  in  custody,  he 
took  the  trail  of  the  horses,  and  followed  them 
far  by  their  hoof-marks  in  the  road.  Then  he 
overtook  a  religious  man,  who  was  mounted  on  a 
strong  horse,  blacker  than  a  berry. 

"  Sir  knight,"  he  asked,  "  what  seek  you  ?" 

"  I  seek  my  brother,"  he  replied,  "  who  came 
this  way  beaten  by  two  knights." 

"  Then  seek  no  further,  but  be  strong  of  heart, 
for  I  have  sad  tidings  for  you.  Your  brother  is 
dead." 

He  then  led  Bors  to  a  clump  of  bushes,  in 
which  lay  a  newly  slain  body,  which  seemed  to 
be  that  of  Lionel.  Seeing  this,  Bors  broke  into 


76       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 

uuch  grief  that  he  fell  to  the  earth  in  a  swoon, 
and  long  lay  there.  When  he  recovered  he  said, 
sadly, — 

"  Dear  brother,  I  would  have  rescued  you  had 
not  a  higher  duty  called  me.  But  since  we  are 
thus  parted,  joy  shall  never  again  enter  my  deso- 
late heart.  I  can  now  but  say,  be  He  whom  I 
have  taken  for  my  master  my  help  and  comfort." 

Thus  grieving,  he  took  up  the  body  in  his  arms, 
and  put  it  upon  his  saddle-bow.  Then  he  said  to 
his  companion, — 

"Can  you  tell  me  of  some  chapel,  where  I  may 
bury  this  body  ?" 

"  Come  with  me.     There  is  one  near  by." 

They  rode  forward  till  they  came  in  sight  of  a 
tower,  beside  which  was  an  old  and  half-ruined 
chapel.  Here  they  alighted,  and  placed  the  corpse 
in  a  tomb  of  marble. 

"We  will  leave  him  here,"  said  the  good  man, 
"  and  seek  shelter  for  the  night.  To-morrow  we 
will  return  and  perform  the  services  for  the  dead." 

"Are  you  a  priest?"  asked  Bore. 

"  Yes,"  he  answered. 

"  Then  you  may  be  able  to  interpret  a  dream 
that  came  to  me  last  night." 

Thereupon  he  told  his  dream  of  the  birds,  and 
that  of  the  flowers. 

"  I  can  interpret  the  vision  of  the  birds  now," 
said  the  priest.  "  The  rest  must  wait  till  later. 
The  white  bird  is  the  emblem  of  a  rich  and  fair 
lady,  wfio  loves  you  deeply,  and  will  die  for  lovo 


THE   STRANGE  ADVENTURES    OP   SIR   BOR8.       77 

if  you  pity  her  not.  I  counsel  you,  therefore, 
not  to  refuse  her,  for  this  I  shall  tell  you,  that  if 
you  return  not  her  love,  your  cousin  Lancelot, 
the  best  of  knights,  shall  die.  Men  will  call  you 
a  manslayer,  both  of  your  brother  Lionel  and 
your  cousin  Lancelot,  since  you  might  have  saved 
them  both  easily  if  you  would.  You  rescued  a 
maiden  who  was  naught  to  you,  and  let  your 
brother  perish.  Which,  think  you,  was  your 
greater  duty  ?" 

"  I  did  what  I  thought  my  duty,"  said  Bors. 

"  At  any  rate,  bear  this  in  mind,  you  will  bo  in 
sad  fault  if  you  suffer  your  cousin  Lancelot  to 
die  for  an  idle  scruple." 

"  I  should  be  sad,  indeed,"  said  Bors.  "  Bather 
would  I  die  ten  times  over  than  see  my  cousin 
Lancelot  perish  through  fault  of  mine." 

"  The  choice  lies  in  your  hand,"  said  the  priest. 
"  It  is  for  you  to  decide." 

As  he  spoke  they  came  in  front  of  a  fair- 
showing  tower  and  manor-house,  where  were 
knights  and  ladies,  who  welcomed  Bors  warmly. 
When  he  was  disarmed  there  was  brought  him  a 
mantle  furred  with  ermine.  Then  he  was  led  to 
the  company  of  knights  and  ladies,  who  received 
him  so  gladly,  and  did  so  much  to  make  his  stay 
pleasant,  that  all  thoughts  of  his  brother  Lionel 
and  of  the  danger  of  Lancelot  were  driven  from 
his  mind. 

As  they  stood  in  gay  converse  there  came  out  of 
a  chamber  a  lady  whom  Bors  had  not  before  seen, 


78  THE   QTTB8T   OF   TH1   HOLT   GRAIL. 

and  whose  beauty  was  such  that  he  felt  he  had 
never  beheld  so  lovely  a  face,  while  her  dress  was 
richer  than  Queen  Guenever  had  ever  worn. 

"Here,  Sir  Bors,"  said  those  present,  "is  the 
lady  to  whom  we  all  owe  service.  Eicher  ana 
fairer  lady  the  world  holds  not,  and  she  loves  you 
above  all  other  knights,  and  will  have  no  knight 
but  you." 

On  hearing  this,  Bore  stood  abashed.  This, 
then,  he  thought,  was  the  white  bird  of  his  dream. 
Her  love  he  must  return  or  lose  Lancelot, — so  fate 
had  spoken. 

As  he  stood  deeply  thinking,  the  lady  came  up 
and  saluted  him,  taking  his  hand  in  hers,  and  bid- 
ding him  sit  beside  her,  while  her  deep  eyes  rested 
upon  him  with  looks  that  made  his  soul  tremble. 
Never  had  he  gazed  into  such  eyes  before. 

Then  she  spoke  of  many  things,  luring  him 
into  pleasant  conversation,  in  which  he  forgot  his 
fears,  and  began  to  take  delight  in  her  presence. 
At  the  end  she  told  him  how  deeply  and  how  long 
she  had  loved  him,  and  begged  him  to  return  her 
love,  saying  that  she  could  make  him  richer  than 
ever  was  man  of  his  age. 

These  words  brought  back  all  his  trouble  of 
soul.  How  to  answer  the  lady  he  knew  not,  for 
his  vow  of  chastity  was  too  deep  to  be  lightly 
broken. 

"  Alas  I"  she  said,  "  must  I  plead  for  your  love 
in  vain?" 

"  Madam,"  said  Bore,  "  I  cannot  think  of  earthly 


THE   8TRANX3E   ADVENTURES   OF   SIR  BOBS.       79 

ties  and  delights  while  my  brother  lies  dead,  and 
awaits  the  rites  of  the  Church." 

"  I  have  loved  you  long,"  she  repeated,  "  both  for 
your  beauty  of  body  and  soul,  and  the  high  re- 
nown you  have  achieved.  Now  that  chance  has 
brought  you  to  my  home,  think  not  ill  of  me  if  I 
let  you  not  go  without  telling  my  love,  and  be 
seeching  you  to  return  it." 

"  That  I  cannot  do,"  said  Bors. 

At  these  words  she  fell  into  the  deepest  sorrow, 
while  tears  flowed  from  her  beautiful  eyes. 

"  You  will  kill  me  by  your  coldness,"  she  be- 
wailed. Then  she  took  him  by  the  hand  and  bade 
him  look  upon  her.  "  Am  I  not  fair  and  lovely, 
and  worthy  the  love  of  the  best  of  knights? 
Alas !  since  you  will  not  love  me,  you  shall  see  me 
die  of  despair  before  your  eyes." 

"  That  I  do  not  fear  to  see,"  he  replied. 

"  You  shall  see  it  within  this  hour,"  she  said, 
sadly. 

Then  she  left  him,  and,  taking  with  her  twelve 
of  her  ladies,  mounted  to  the  highest  battlement 
of  the  tower,  while  Bors  was  led  to  the  court-yard 
below. 

"  Ah,  Sir  Bors,  gentle  knight,  have  pity  on  us !" 
cried  one  of  the  ladies.  "  We  shall  all  die  if  you 
are  cruel  to  our  lady,  for  she  vows  that  she  and 
all  of  us  shall  fall  from  this  tower  if  you  disdain 
her  proffered  love." 

Bors  looked  up,  and  his  heart  melted  with  pity, 
to  see  so  many  fair  faces  looking  beseechingly 


80  THE   QUEST   OF  THE   HOLY   GRAIL. 

down  upon  him,  while  tears  seemed  to  rain  from 
their  eyes.  Yet  he  was  steadfast  of  heart,  for  he 
felt  that  he  could  not  lose  his  soul  to  save  their 
lives,  and  his  vow  of  chastity  in  the  quest  of  the 
Sangreal  was  not  to  be  broken  for  the  delights  of 
earthly  love. 

As  he  stood,  some  of  the  maidens  flung  them- 
selves from  the  tower,  and  lay  dead  and  bleeding 
at  his  feet,  while  above  he  saw  the  fair  face  of  the 
lady  looking  down,  as  she  stood  balanced  on  the 
battlement,  like  a  fair  leaf  tkat  the  next  wind 
would  sweep  to  certain  death. 

"  God  help  me  and  guide  me  I"  cried  Bors  in 
horror.  "  What  shall  I  do  ?  Here  earthly  endur- 
ance is  too  weak  ;  I  must  put  my  trust  in  heaven." 
And  he  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  on  his  forehead 
and  his  breast. 

Then  came  a  marvel  indeed.  A  roar  was  heard 
as  if  thunder  had  rent  the  sky,  and  a  cry  as  if  all 
the  fiends  of  hell  were  about  him.  For  the  moment 
he  closed  his  eyes,  stunned  by  the  uproar.  When 
he  opened  them  again  all  had  gone, — the  tower, 
the  lady,  the  knights,  and  the  chapel  where  he  had 
placed  his  brother's  body, — and  he  stood  in  the 
road,  armed  and  mounted,  while  only  a  broad, 
empty  plain  spread  before  him. 

Then  he  held  up  his  hands  to  heaven  and  cried 
fervently:  "  Father  and  Creator,  from  what  have  I 
escaped !  It  is  the  foul  fiend  in  the  likeness  of  a 
beautiful  woman  who  has  tempted  me.  Only  the 
sign  of  the  holy  cross  has  saved  me  from  perdition  " 


THE   STRANGE   ADVENTURES   OF  SIB  BOR8.       81 

Putting  spurs  to  his  horse  he  rode  furiously 
away,  burning  with  anxiety  to  get  from  that 
accursed  place,  and  deeply  glad  at  his  escape. 
As  he  proceeded  a  loud  clock-bell  sounded  to  the 
right,  and  turning  thither  ho  came  to  a  high  wall, 
over  which  he  saw  the  pinnacles  of  an  abbey. 

Here  he  asked  shelter  for  the  night,  and  was 
received  with  a  warm  welcome,  for  those  within 
deemed  he  was  one  of  the  knights  that  sought  the 
Sangreal.  When  morning  came  he  heard  mass, 
and  then  the  abbot  came  and  bade  him  good- 
morning.  A  conversation  followed,  in  which  he 
told  the  abbot  all  that  had  happened  to  him,  and 
begged  his  interpretation  thereof. 

"  Truly  you  are  strong  in  the  service  of  the 
Lord,"  said  the  abbot,  "and  are  held  for  great 
deeds.  Thus  I  interpret  your  adventures  and 
visions.  The  great  fowl  that  fed  its  young  with 
its  own  blood  is  an  emblem  of  Christ,  who  shed 
his  blood  for  the  good  of  mankind.  And  the  bare 
tree  on  which  it  sat  signifies  the  world,  which 
of  itself  is  barren  and  without  fruit.  Also  King 
Aniause  betokens  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  lady  for 
whom  you  took  the  battle  the  new  law  of  Holy 
Church ;  while  the  older  lady  is  the  emblem  of 
the  old  law  and  the  fiend,  which  forever  war 
against  the  Church. 

"  By  the  black  bird  also  was  emblemed  the 

Holy  Church,  which  saith,  '  I  am  black  but  he  is 

fair.'     The  white  bird  represented  the  fiend,  which, 

like  hypocrisy,  is  white  without  and  foul  within. 

VOL.  III.—/ 


82       THl  QUIST  OF  THI  HOLT  ORAIL. 

As  for  the  rotten  chair  and  the  white  lilies,  the 
first  was  thy  brother  Lionel,  who  is  a  murderer 
and  an  untrue  knight ;  while  the  lilies  were  the 
knight  and  the  lady.  The  one  drew  near  to  the 
other  to  dishonor  her,  but  you  forced  them  to 
part.  And  you  would  have  been  in  great  peril 
had  you,  for  the  rescue  of  a  rotten  tree,  suffered 
those  two  flowers  to  perish ;  for  if  they  had  sinned 
together  they  had  both  been  damned. 

"  The  seeming  man  of  religion,  who  blamed  you 
for  leaving  your  brother  to  rescue  a  lady,  was  the 
foul  fiend  himself.  Your  brother  was  not  slain,  as 
he  made  it  appear,  but  is  still  alive.  For  the 
corpse,  and  the  chapel,  and  the  tower  were  all 
devices  of  the  evil  one,  and  the  lady  who  offered 
her  love  was  the  fiend  himself  in  that  showing. 
He  knew  you  were  tender-hearted,  and  he  did 
all  this  to  make  you  lose  your  hope  of  the  San- 
greal.  Much  you  may  thank  God  that  you  with- 
stood his  temptation,  and  that  until  now  you  have 
come  through  all  your  adventures  pure  and  un- 
blemished." 

This  gladdened  the  heart  of  the  virtuous  knight, 
and  a  warm  hope  of  winning  the  Sangreal  arose 
in  his  soul.  Much  more  passed  between  them, 
and  when  Bors  rode  forth  it  was  with  the  fervent 
blessing  of  the  holy  abbot. 

On  the  morning  of  the  second  day  Bors  saw 
before  him  a  castle  that  rose  in  a  green  valleyt 
and  met  with  a  yeoman,  whom  he  stopped  and 
asked  what  was  going  on  in  that  country. 


THX   STRANGE   ADVENTURES   OP   SIR   BORS.       83 

"  Sir  knight,"  he  answered,  "  there  is  to  be  held 
a  great  tournament  before  that  castle." 

"  By  what  people  ?"  asked  Bors. 

"  The  Earl  of  Plains,"  was  the  answer,  "  leads 
one  party,  and  the  nephew  of  the  Lady  of  Hervin 
the  other." 

With  this  the  yeoman  rode  on,  and  Bors  kept  on 
his  course,  thinking  he  might  meet  Lionel  or  some 
other  of  his  old  comrades  at  the  tournament.  At 
length  he  turned  aside  to  a  hermitage  that  stood 
at  the  entrance  to  the  forest.  And  to  his  surprise 
and  joy  he  saw  his  brother  Lionel  sitting  armed 
at  the  chapel  door,  waiting  there  to  take  part  in 
the  tournament  the  next  morning. 

Springing  from  his  horse,  Bors  ran  up  gladly, 
crying,  "  Dear  brother,  happy  is  this  meeting  I" 

"  Come  not  near  me !"  cried  Lionel,  leaping 
to  his  feet  in  a  burst  of  fury.  "  False  recreant, 
you  left  me  in  peril  of  death  to  help  a  yelping 
woman,  and  by  my  knightly  vow  you  shall  pay 
dearly  for  it.  Keep  from  me,  traitor,  and  defend 
yourself.  You  or  I  shall  die  for  this." 

On  seeing  his  brother  in  such  wrath  Bors 
kneeled  beseechingly  before  him,  holding  up  his 
hands,  and  praying  for  pardon  and  forgiveness. 

"  Never  1"  said  Lionel.  "  I  vow  to  God  to  punish 
you  for  your  treachery.  You  have  lived  long 
enough  for  a  d">g  and  traitor." 

Then  he  strode  wrath  fully  away,  and  came  back 
soon,  irounted  and  with  spear  in  hand. 

"Bors  de  Ganis,"  he  cried,  "defend  yourself, 


84       THE  QUEST  OP  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

for  I  hold  you  as  a  felon  and  traitor,  and  the  un- 
truest  knight  that  ever  came  from  so  worthy  a 
house  as  ours.  Mount  and  fight.  If  you  will  not, 
I  will  run  on  you  as  you  stand  there  on  foot. 
The  shame  shall  be  mine  and  the  harm  yours; 
but  of  that  shame  I  reck  naught." 

When  Bors  saw  that  he  must  fight  with  his 
brother  or  die  he  knew  not  what  to  do.  Again 
he  kneeled  and  begged  forgiveness,  in  view  of  the 
love  that  ought  to  be  between  brothers. 

But  the  fiend  that  sought  his  overthrow  had 
put  such  fury  into  Lionel's  heart  that  nothing 
could  turn  him  from  his  wrathful  purpose.  And 
when  he  saw  that  Bors  would  not  mount,  he 
spurred  his  horse  upon  him  and  rode  over  him, 
hurting  him  so  with  his  horse's  hoofs  that  he 
swooned  with  the  pain.  Then  Lionel  sprang 
from  his  horse  and  rushed  upon  him  sword  in 
hand  to  strike  off  his  head. 

At  this  critical  moment  the  hermit,  who  was  a 
man  of  great  age,  came  running  out,  and  threw 
himself  protectingly  on  the  fallen  knight. 

"  Gentle  sir,"  he  cried  to  Lionel,  "  have  mercy 
on  me  and  on  thy  brother,  who  is  one  of  the 
worthiest  knights  in  the  world.  If  you  slay  him, 
you  will  lose  your  soul." 

"Sir  priest,"  said  Lionel,  sternly,  "if  you  leave 
not  I  shall  slay  you,  and  him  after  you." 

"Slay  me  if  you  will,  but  spare  your  brothei, 
for  my  death  would  not  do  half  so  much  harm  as 
his." 


THE   STRANGE   ADVENTURES  OF   SIB   BOBS.       85 

"Have  it,  then,  meddler,  if  you  will!"  cried 
Lionel,  and  he  struck  the  hermit  a  blow  with  his 
sword  that  stretched  him  dead  on  the  ground. 

Then,  with  unquenched  anger,  he  tore  loose  the 
lacings  of  his  brother's  helmet,  and  would  have 
killed  him  on  the  spot  but  for  a  fortunate  chance. 

As  it  happened,  Colgrevance,  a  fellow  of  the 
Round  Table,  rode  up  at  that  moment,  and  won- 
dered when  he  saw  the  hermit  dead,  and  Lionel 
about  to  slay  his  brother,  whom  he  greatly  loved. 

Leaping  hastily  to  the  ground,  he  caught  the 
furious  knight  by  the  shoulders  and  drew  him 
strongly  backward. 

"  What  would  you  do  ?"  he  cried.  "  Madman, 
would  you  kill  your  brother,  the  worthiest  knight 
of  our  brotherhood?  And  are  you  so  lost  to 
honor  as  to  slay  any  knight  thus  lying  insensi- 
ble ?" 

"  Will  you  hinder  me  ?"  asked  Lionel,  turning 
in  rage.  "  Back,  sirrah,  or  I  shall  slay  you  first 
and  him  afterwards." 

"  Why  seek  you  to  slay  him  ?" 

"  He  has  richly  deserved  it,  and  die  he  shall, 
whoever  says  the  contrary." 

Then  he  ran  upon  Bors  and  raised  his  sword  to 
strike  him  on  the  head.  But  Colgrevance  pushed 
between  them  and  thrust  him  fiercely  backward. 

"  Off,  you  murderer !"  he  cried.  "  If  you  are 
BO  hot  for  blood  you  must  have  mine  first." 

"  Who  are  you  ?"  demanded  Lionel. 

<4I  am  Colgrevance,  one  of  your  fellows.  Bound 
8 


86       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  QUAIL. 

Table  Knights  should  be  brothers,  not  foes,  but  I 
would  challenge  King  Arthur  himself  in  this 
quarrel." 

"  Defend  yourself,  meddler,"  cried  Lionel,  rush- 
ing upon  him  and  striking  him  fiercely  on  the 
helm  with  his  sword. 

"  That  shall  I,"  rejoined  Colgrevance,  attacking 
him  in  turn. 

Then  a  hot  battle  began,  for  Colgrevance  was  a 
good  knight,  and  defended  himself  manfully. 

While  the  fight  went  on  Bors  recovered  his 
aenses,  and  saw  with  a  sad  heart  Colgrevance 
defending  him  against  his  brother.  He  strove  to 
rise  and  part  them,  but  his  hurts  were  such  that 
he  could  not  stand  on  his  feet.  And  thus  he  sat 
watching  the  combat  till  he  saw  that  Colgrevance 
had  the  worst,  for  Lionel  had  wounded  him  sorely, 
and  he  had  lost  so  much  blood  that  he  could  barely 
stand. 

At  this  juncture  he  saw  Bors,  who  sat  watching 
them  in  deep  anguish. 

"  Bore,"  he  cried,  "  I  am  fighting  to  succor  you. 
Will  you  sit  there  and  see  me  perish  ?" 

"  You  both  shall  die,"  cried  Lionel,  furiously. 
"You  shall  pay  the  penalty  of  your  meddling, 
and  he  of  his  treason."  , 

Hearing  this,  Bors  rose  with  aching  limbs,  and 
painfully  put  on  his  helm.  Colgrevance  again 
called  to  him  in  anguish, — 

"  Help  me,  Bors !  I  can  stand  no  longer.  Will 
you  let  me  die  without  lifting  your  hand  T 


TELE   STRANGE   ADVENTURES   OP    SLR   BOBS.       87 

At  this  moment  Lionel  smote  the  helm  from  his 
head,  and  then  with  another  fierce  blow  stretched 
him  dead  and  bleeding  upon  the  earth. 

This  murderous  deed  done,  he  ran  on  Bors 
with  the  passion  of  a  fiend,  and  dealt  him  a  blow 
that  made  him  stoop. 

"  For  God's  love  leave  me  I"  cried  Bors.  "  If  I 
slay  you  or  you  me,  we  will  both  be  dead  of  that 
sin." 

"  May  God  never  help  me  if  I  take  mercy  on  you, 
if  I  have  the  better  hand,"  cried  Lionel,  in  reply. 

Then  Bors  drew  his  sword,  though  his  eyes 
were  wet  with  tears. 

"  Fair  brother,"  he  said,  "  God  knows  my  heart. 
You  have  done  evil  enough  this  day,  in  slaying  a 
holy  priest  and  one  of  our  own  brotherhood  of 
knights.  I  fear  you  not,  but  I  dread  the  wrath 
of  God,  for  this  is  an  unnatural  battle  which  you 
force  upon  me.  May  God  have  mercy  upon  me, 
since  I  must  defend  my  life  against  my  brother." 

Saying  this,  Bors  raised  his  sword  and  advanced 
upon  Lionel,  who  stood  before  him  with  the  wrath 
of  a  fury. 

Then  would  have  been  a  most  unholy  battle, 
had  not  God  come  to  the  rescue.  For  as  they 
thus  stood  defiant  a  voice  came  to  them  from  the 
air,  which  said, — 

"  Flee,  Bors,  and  touch  him  not,  for  if  you  do, 
you  will  surely  slay  him." 

And  between  them  descended  a  cloud  that 
gleamed  like  fire,  and  from  which  issued  a  mar- 


88       THE  QUEST  OF  THK  HOLY  QRAIL. 

rellous  flame  that  burned  both  their  shields  to  a 
cinder.  They  were  both  so  affrighted  that  they 
fell  to  the  earth,  and  lay  there  long  in  a  swoon. 

When  they  came  to  themselves  Bors  saw  that 
his  brother  bad  received  no  harm.  For  this  he 
thanked  God,  for  he  feared  that  heaven's  ven- 
geance had  fallen  upon  him.  Then  came  the 
voice  again. 

"  Bors,"  it  said,  "  go  hence,  and  bear  thy  brother 
company  no  longer.  Take  thy  way  to  the  sea 
where  Percivale  awaiteth  thee." 

"  Forgive  me,  brother,"  said  Bors,  "  for  what  1 
have  done  against  you." 

"  God  has  forgiven  you,  and  I  must,"  said 
Lionel.  "  It  was  the  foul  fiend  that  filled  my  soul 
with  fury,  and  much  harm  has  come  of  it." 

Then  Bors  rode  away,  leaving  Lionel  in  the 
company  of  those  whom  he  had  slain,  and  took 
the  most  direct  road  towards  the  sea. 

At  length  he  came  to  an  abbey  that  was  near 
the  water-side.  And  at  midnight  as  he  rested 
there  he  was  roused  from  his  sleep  by  a  voice, 
that  bade  him  leave  his  bed  and  ride  onward. 

He  started  up  at  this,  and  made  the  sign  of  the 
cross  on  his  forehead ;  then  took  his  harness  and 
horse,  and  rode  out  at  a  broken  place  in  the  abbey 
wall.  An  hour  or  so  brought  him  to  the  water- 
side, and  on  the  strand  there  lay  awaiting  him  a 
ship  all  covered  with  white  samite.  Bors  alighted, 
and  leaving  his  horse  on  the  strand  entered  the  ship, 
commending  himself  to  Christ's  fostering  care. 


THE  ADVENTURE   OP   THE   MAGIC   SHIP.  89 

Hardly  had  he  done  so  before  the  sails  spread, 
as  of  themselves,  and  the  vessel  set  out  to  sea  so 
fast  that  it  seemed  to  fly.  But  it  was  still  dark 
night,  and  he  saw  no  one  about  him.  So  he  lay 
down  and  slept  till  day. 

When  he  awaked  he  saw  a  knight  lying  in  the 
middle  of  the  deck,  all  armed  but  the  helm.  A 
glance  told  him  that  it  was  Porcivalo  de  G-alis,  and 
he  sprang  towards  him  with  joy.  But  Percivale 
drew  back,  asking  him  who  he  was. 

"  Know  you  me  not  ?"  asked  Bors. 

"  I  do  not.  But  I  marvel  how  you  came  hitner, 
unless  brought  by  our  Lord  himself." 

Then  Bors  took  off  his  helm  and  smiled.  Great 
was  Percivale's  joy  when  he  recognized  him,  and 
long  did  they  converse  in  gladness,  telling  each 
other  their  adventures  and  temptations. 

And  so  they  went  far  over  the  sea,  the  ship 
taking  them  they  knew  not  whither,  yet  each 
comforted  the  other,  and  daily  they  prayed  for 
God's  grace. 

"Now,  that  we  two  are  together,"  said  Perci- 
vale, "  we  lack  nothing  but  Galahad,  the  best  of 
knights."  

CHAPTEE  VI. 

THE   ADVENTURE   OF   THE   MAGIO   SHIP. 

AFTER  Galahad  had  rescued  Percivale  from  the 
twenty  knights,  he  rode  into  a  vast  forest,  through 
which  he  journeyed  for  many  days,  meeting  there 
8* 


90  THE   QUEST   OF   TELE   HOLT   GRAIL, 

many  strange  adventures.  Then  fortune  took 
him  past  a  castle  where  a  tournament  was  in 
progress,  and  where  the  men  of  the  castle  had  so 
much  the  worse  of  it  that  they  were  driven  back 
to  their  gates,  and  some  of  them  slain.  Seeing 
this,  Galahad  rode  to  the  aid  of  the  weaker  party, 
and  did  marvellous  deeds  of  arms,  soon  aiding 
them  to  drive  back  their  foes. 

As  it  happened,  Gawaine  and  Hector  de  Maris 
were  with  the  outer  party,  and  when  they  beheld 
the  white  shield  with  the  red  cross,  they  said  to 
one  another, — 

"  That  hewer  of  helms  and  shields  is  Galahad, 
none  less.  We  should  be  fools  to  meet  him  face 
to  face." 

Yet  Gawaine  did  not  escape,  for  Galahad  came 
at  full  career  upon  him,  and  gave  him  such  a  blow 
that  his  helm  was  cleft,  and  so  would  his  head 
have  been  but  that  the  sword  slanted,  and  cut  the 
shoulder  of  his  horse  deeply. 

Seeing  Gawaine  thus  dealt  with,  Hector  drew 
back,  not  deeming  it  wise  to  meet  such  a  cham- 
pion, nor  the  part  of  nature  to  fight  with  his 
nephew.  Galahad  continued  his  onset  till  he  had 
beaten  down  all  the  knights  opposed  to  him. 
Then,  seeing  that  none  would  face  him,  he  turned 
and  rode  away  as  he  had  come,  none  knowing 
whither  he,  who  had  come  upon  them  with  the 
suddenness  of  a  thunder-clap,  had  gone. 

"  Lancelot  du  Lake  told  no  less  than  the  truth," 
declared  Gawaine,  bitterly,  "  when  he  said  that,  for 


THE   ADVENTURE  OF  THE   MAGIC    SHIP.  91 

seeking  to  draw  the  sword  from  the  stone,  I 
would  get  a  sore  wound  from  that  same  blade. 
In  faith,  I  would  not  for  the  best  castle  in  the 
world  have  had  such  a  buffet." 

"  Your  quest  is  done,  it  seems,"  said  Hector. 

"  As  for  that,  it  was  done  before.  You  can  still 
seek  the  Sangreal  if  you  will,  but  I  shall  seek  my 
bed ;  and  I  fear  I  shall  stay  there  much  longer 
than  I  care  to." 

Then  he  was  borne  into  the  castle,  where  a 
leech  was  found  for  him,  while  Hector  remained 
with  him,  vowing  he  would  not  leave  till  his  com- 
rade was  well. 

Meanwhile  Galahad  rode  on,  leaving  many  a 
groan  and  more  than  one  sore  head  behind  him, 
and  at  night  reached  a  hermitage  near  the  castle 
of  Carbonek.  Here  he  was  welcomed  by  the 
hermit ;  but  late  at  night,  when  they  were  asleep, 
a  loud  knock  came  on  the  door,  which  roused  the 
host.  Going  to  see  who  knocked  at  that  untimely 
hour,  he  found  a  lady  at  the  door,  who  said, — 

"  Ulfin,  rouse  the  knight  who  is  with  you.  1 
must  speak  with  him." 

This  he  did,  and  Galahad  went  to  the  door,  and 
asked  her  what  she  wished. 

"  Galahad,"  she  replied,  "  I  am  sent  here  to  seek 
you.  You  must  arm  and  mount  your  horse  at 
once,  and  follow  me.  Within  three  days  I  shall 
bring  you  to  the  greatest  adventure  that  ever 
knight  met." 

Without  further  question  Galahad  obeyed,  and, 


92       THK  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  QRAIL. 

haying  commended  himself  to  God,  he  bade  his 
fair  guide  to  lead,  and  he  would  follow  wherever 
she  wished. 

Onward  they  rode  during  the  remainder  of 
the  night  and  the  next  day,  till  they  came  to  a 
castle  not  far  from  the  sea,  where  Galahad  was 
warmly  welcomed,  for  the  damsel  who  guided 
him  had  been  sent  by  the  lady  of  that  castle. 

"  Madam,"  said  the  damsel,  "  shall  he  stay  here 
all  night  ?" 

"  No,"  she  replied  j  "  only  until  he  has  dined, 
and  has  slept  a  little.  He  must  ride  on  until  des- 
tiny is  accomplished." 

So  at  early  nightfall  Galahad  was  called  and 
helped  to  arm  by  torchlight.  Then  he  and  the 
damsel  again  took  horse,  and  rode  on  at  speed  till 
they  suddenly  found  themselves  at  the  ocean's 
brink,  with  the  waves  breaking  at  their  feet.  And 
here  lay  a  ship  covered  with  white  samite,  from 
which  manly  voices  cried, — 

"  Welcome,  Sir  Galahad.  We  have  long  awaited 
you.  Come  on  board." 

"What  means  this?"  asked  Galahad  of  the 
damsel.  "  Who  are  they  that  call  ?" 

"No  others  than  your  friends  and  comrades, 
Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Percivale.  Here  you  must  leave 
your  horse,  and  I  mine,  and  both  of  us  enter  the 
ship,  for  so  God  commands." 

This  they  did,  taking  their  saddles  and  bridles 
with  them,  and  making  on  them  the  sign  of  the 
cross.  When  they  had  entered  the  ship  the  two 


THE   ADVENTURE  OF   THE    MAQIO   SHIP.  93 

knights  received  them  with  great  joy.  And  as 
they  stood  greeting  each  other  the  wind  suddenly 
rose  and  drove  the  ship  from  the  land,  forcing  it 
through  the  waves  at  a  marvellous  speed. 

"  Whence  comes  this  ship  ?"  asked  Galahad. 

Then  Bors  and  Percivale  told  him  of  their  ad- 
ventures and  temptations,  and  by  what  miracles 
they  had  been  brought  on  board  that  vessel. 

"  Truly,"  said  Galahad,  "  God  has  aided  you 
marvellously.  As  for  me,  had  it  not  been  for 
the  lady  who  led  me,  I  should  never  have  found 
you." 

"  If  Lancelot,  your  father,  were  but  here,"  said 
.Bors,  "  then  it  would  seem  to  me  that  we  had  all 
that  heart  could  wish." 

"  That  may  not  be,"  answered  Galahad,  "  unless 
by  the  pleasure  of  our  Lord." 

As  they  conversed  the  ship  suddenly  ran  be- 
tween two  rocks,  where  it  held  fast,  but  where 
they  could  not  land  for  the  raging  of  the  sea. 
But  just  before  them  lay  another  ship,  which 
they  could  reach  without  danger. 

"  Thither  we  must  go,"  said  the  lady,  "  and  there 
we  shall  find  strange  things,  for  such  is  the  Lord's 
will." 

At  this  they  approached  the  ship,  and  saw  that 
it  was  richly  provided,  but  without  man  or  woman 
on  board.  And  on  its  bow  there  was  written  in 
large  letters, — 

"  You  who  shall  enter  this  ship,  take  heed  of 
your  belief:  for  I  am  Faith,  and  bid  you  beware 


94  THI  QTTIST  OF  TH«  HOLT  GRAIL. 

If  you  fail  I  shall  not  help  you.  He  who  enters 
here  must  be  of  pure  heart  and  earnest  trust." 

They  stood  looking  earnestly  at  one  another 
after  having  read  these  words. 

"  Percivale,"  said  the  lady,  "  know  you  who  I 
am?" 

"  I  do  not,"  he  replied.  "  Have  I  ever  seen  you 
before?" 

"  Know,  then,  that  I  am  your  sister,  the  daugh- 
ter of  King  Pellinore.  I  love  no  man  on  earth  as 
I  do  you.  I  warn  you,  therefore,  not  to  enter  this 
ship  unless  you  have  perfect  belief  in  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  for  if  your  faith  fails  you  aught  here 
you  shall  perish." 

"  Fair  sister,"  he  replied,  "  happy  am  I,  indeed, 
to  know  you.  As  for  the  ship,  I  shall  not  fail  to 
enter  it.  If  I  prove  an  untrue  knight  or  a  mis- 
believer, then  let  me  perish." 

As  they  spoke,  Galahad  blessed  himself  and 
entered  the  ship,  and  after  him  came  the  lady, 
and  then  Bors  and  Percivale.  On  reaching  the 
deck  they  found  it  so  marvellously  fair  and  rich 
that  they  stood  in  wonder.  In  the  midst  of  the 
ship  was  a  noble  bed;  and  when  Galahad  went 
thither  he  found  on  it  a  crown  of  silk.  Below 
this  lay  a  sword,  half  drawn  from  its  scabbard, 
the  pommel  being  of  stone  of  many  colors.  The 
scales  of  the  haft  were  of  the  ribs  of  two  beasts. 
One  beast  was  a  serpent,  known  in  Calidone  as  the 
serpent  of  the  fiend ;  and  its  bone  had  the  magic 
virtue  that  the  hand  which  touched  it  should 


THE   ADVXNTURX  O7   THE   MAOI<1   SHIP.  95 

never  be  weary  or  hurt.  The  other  beast  was  a 
fish,  that  haunted  the  flood  of  Euphrates,  its  name 
Ertanax ;  its  bone  had  the  virtue  that  he  who 
handled  it  should  not  think  on  the  joys  and  sor- 
rows of  his  past  life,  but  only  of  that  which  he 
then  beheld.  And  no  man  could  grasp  this  sword 
but  the  one  who  passed  all  others  in  might  and 
virtue. 

"  In  the  name  of  God,"  said  Percivale,  "  I  shall 
seek  to  handle  it." 

But  in  vain  he  tried,  he  could  not  grasp  the 
magic  hilt.  No  more  could  Bors,  who  attempted 
it  in  his  turn.  Then  Galahad  approached,  and  as 
he  did  so  saw  written  on  the  sword  in  letters  like 
blood,  "  He  who  draweth  me  has  peril  to  endure. 
His  body  shall  meet  with  shame,  for  he  shall  be 
wounded  to  the  death." 

"  By  my  faith,  the  risk  is  too  great,"  said  Gala- 
had. "  I  shall  not  set  my  hand  to  so  fatal  a 
blade." 

"  That  you  must,"  said  the  lady.  "  The  drawing 
of  this  sword  is  forbidden  to  all  men,  save  you. 
No  one  can  draw  back  from  that  which  destiny 
commands." 

Then  she  told  a  marvellous  story  of  that  strange 
blade. 

"  "When  this  ship  arrived  in  the  realm  of  Eng- 
land," she  said,  "  there  was  deadly  war  between 
King  Labor  and  King  Hurlame,  who  was  a  chris- 
tened Saracen.  Here  they  fought  one  day  by  the 
sea-side,  and  Hurlame  was  defeated  and  his  men 


96       TH«  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

slain.  Then  he  fled  into  this  ship,  drew  the  sword 
which  he  saw  here,  and  with  one  stroke  smote  King 
Labor  and  his  horse  in  twain.  But  a  fatal  stroke 
it  proved,  for  with  it  there  came  harm  and  pesti- 
lence to  all  this  realm.  Neither  corn  nor  grass 
would  grow,  fruit  failed  to  ripen,  the  waters  held 
no  fish,  and  men  named  this  the  waste  land  of  the 
two  marches.  Nor  did  King  Hurlame  escape. 
When  he  saw  the  strange  carving  of  the  sword,  a 
craving  came  into  his  mind  to  possess  the  scab- 
bard. Entering  the  ship  for  that  purpose,  he 
thrust  the  sword  into  the  sheath ;  but  no  sooner 
had  he  done  so  than  he  fell  dead  beside  the  bed. 
And  there  his  body  lay  till  a  maiden  entered  the 
ship  and  cast  it  out,  for  no  man  could  be  found 
hardy  enough  to  set  foot  on  that  fatal  deck." 

The  three  knights  on  hearing  this  looked  ear- 
nestly at  the  scabbard,  which  seemed  to  them 
made  of  serpent's  skin,  while  on  it  was  writing 
in  letters  of  gold  and  silver.  But  the  girdle  was 
poor  and  mean,  and  ill  suited  to  so  rich  a  sword. 
The  writing  was  to  this  effect :  "  He  who  shall 
wield  me  must  be  hardy  of  nature.  Nor  shall  h«> 
ever  be  shamed  while  he  is  girt  with  this  girdle  ; 
which  must  never  be  put  away  except  by  the 
hands  of  a  maiden  and  a  king's  daughter.  And 
she,  if  she  shall  ever  cease  to  be  a  maid,  shall 
die  the  most  villanous  death  that  woman  ever 
endured." 

"  Turn  the  sword,"  said  Percivale,  "  that  we  may 
see  what  is  on  the  other  side." 


THE   ADVENTURE  OF  THE   MAGIC   SHIP.  97 

On  doing  so  they  found  it  red  as  blood,  with 
coal-black  letters,  which  said :  "  He  that  shall 
praise  me  most  shall  find  me  most  to  fail  him  in 
time  of  great  need  ;  and  to  whom  I  should  be  most 
fair  shall  1  prove  most  foul.  Thus  is  it  ordained." 

Then  Percivale's  sister  told  them  the  history  of 
the  sword,  which  was  a  very  strange  and  admi- 
rable thing  to  hear.  More  than  once  had  it  been 
drawn  in  modern  times ;  once  by  Nacien,  who  after- 
wards became  a  hermit,  and  in  whose  hands  the 
sword  fell  in  half,  and  sorely  wounded  him  in  the 
foot.  Afterwards  it  was  drawn  by  King  Pellam, 
and  it  was  for  this  boldness  that  he  was  destined 
to  be  deeply  wounded  by  the  spear  with  which 
Balin  afterwards  struck  him. 

The  knights  now  observed  the  bed  more  closely, 
and  saw  that  above  its  head  there  hung  two 
swords.  With  them  were  three  strange  spindles, 
one  of  which  was  white  as  snow,  one  red  as  blood, 
and  one  as  green  as  emerald.  As  they  gazed  at 
them  with  curious  wonder,  the  damsel  told  a 
strange  story  of  the  surprising  things  they  had 
gazed  upon.  And  thus  her  story  ran. 

When  mother  Eve  gathered  the  fruit  for  which 
Adam  and  she  were  put  out  of  Paradise,  she 
took  with  her  the  bough  on  which  the  apple 
grew.  As  it  kept  fair  and  green,  and  she  had  no 
coffer  in  which  to  keep  it,  she  thrust  it  in  the 
earth,  where,  by  God's  will,  it  took  root,  and  soon 
grew  to  a  great  tree,  whose  branches  and  leaves 
were  as  white  as  milk.  But  afterwards,  at  the 
VOL.  III.— *  y  9 


98       THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  QHAIL. 

time  of  Abel's  birth,  it  became  grass-green.  It 
was  under  this  tree  that  Cain  slew  Abel,  and  then 
it  quickly  lost  its  green  color,  and  grew  rod  as 
blood.  So  it  lived  and  thrived,  and  was  in  full 
life  when  Solomon,  the  wise  king,  came  to  the 
throne. 

It  came  to  pass  that,  as  Solomon  studied  over 
many  things,  and,  above  all,  despised  women  in 
his  heart  and  in  his  writings,  a  voice  came  which 
told  him  that  of  his  line  would  be  born  the  Virgin 
Mary,  the  purest  and  noblest  of  human  kind,  and 
that  afterwards  would  come  a  man,  the  last  of  his 
blood,  as  pure  in  mind  as  a  young  maiden,  and  as 
good  a  knight  as  Joshua  of  Israel.  This  reve- 
lation he  told  to  his  wife,  who  had  questioned  him 
as  to  the  reason  of  his  deep  study. 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  "  since  this  knight  is  to  come,  it 
is  our  duty  to  prepare  for  him.  Therefore,  I 
shall  first  have  made  a  ship  of  the  best  and  most 
durable  wood  that  man  may  find." 

This  was  done  by  Solomon's  command.  When 
the  ship  was  built  and  ready  to  sail,  she  made  a 
covering  for  it  of  cloth  of  silk,  of  such  quality 
that  no  weather  could  rot  it.  And  in  the  midst 
she  placed  a  great  bed,  of  marvellously  rich  work- 
manship, and  covered  with  silk  of  the  finest  text- 
ure. 

"Now,  my  dear  lord,"  she  said  to  Solomon, 
"  since  this  last  knight  of  your  lineage  is  to  pass 
in  valor  and  renown  all  other  knights  that  have 
been  before  or  shall  come  after  him,  therefore  I 


THE   ADVENTURE   OP   THE   MAOIO   SHIP.  99 

counsel  you  to  go  into  the  Temple  of  the  Lord, 
where  is  the  sword  of  the  great  King  David,  your 
father,  which  is  of  magic  temper  and  virtue. 
Take  off  the  pommel  of  this  sword  and  make  one 
of  precious  stones,  skilfully  wrought.  And  make 
a  hilt  and  sheath  of  great  richness  and  beauty. 
As  for  the  girdle,  leave  that  to  me  to  provide." 

Solomon  did  as  she  advised,  and  she  took  the 
sword  and  laid  it  in  the  bed ;  but  when  he  looked 
at  it  he  grew  angry,  for  the  girdle  was  meanly 
made  of  hemp. 

"  I  have  nothing,"  she  said,  "  fit  to  make  a 
girdle  worthy  of  such  a  sword.  But  when  the 
time  comes  a  maiden  will  change  this  for  a  girdle 
worthy  of  him  that  is  to  wear  it." 

This  done,  she  went  with  a  carpenter  to  the  tree 
under  which  Abel  was  slain. 

"  Carve  me  from  this  tree  as  much  wood  as  will 
make  me  a  spindle,"  she  said. 

"  Ah,  madam,"  said  he,  "  I  dare  not  cut  the  tree 
which  our  first  mother  planted." 

"  Do  as  you  are  bidden,"  she  ordered.  "  Dare 
not  disobey  me." 

But  as  he  began  to  cut  the  tree  drops  of  blood 
flowed  out.  Then  he  would  have  fled,  but  she 
made  him  cut  sufficient  to  form  a  spindle.  Next 
she  went  to  the  green  and  the  white  trees,  which 
had  grown  from  the  roots  of  the  other,  and 
bade  him  cut  as  much  from  each  of  these.  From 
this  wood  were  three  spindles  wrought,  which  she 
hung  up  at  the  head  of  the  bed. 


100  THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLT   GRAIL. 

"  You  have  done  marvellously  well,"  said  Solo- 
mon, on  seeing  this.  "  Wonderful  things,  I  deem, 
shall  come  of  all  this,  more  than  you  yourself 
dream  of." 

"  Some  of  these  things  you  shall  soon  know," 
she  answered. 

That  night  Solomon  lay  near  the  ship,  and  as 
he  slept  he  dreamed.  There  came  from  heaven, 
as  it  seemed  to  him,  a  great  company  of  angels, 
who  alighted  in  the  ship,  and  took  water  that  was 
brought  by  an  angel  in  a  vessel  of  silver,  and 
sprinkled  it  everywhere.  Then  the  angel  came 
to  the  sword  and  drew  letters  on  the  hilt,  and  on 
the  ship's  bow  he  wrote,  "  You  who  shall  enter 
this  ship  take  heed  of  your  belief,"  and  further 
as  the  knights  had  read.  When  Solomon  had 
read  these  words  he  drew  back,  and  dared  not 
enter,  and  there  soon  arose  a  wind  which  drove 
the  ship  far  to  sea,  so  that  it  was  quickly  lost  to 
sight.  Then  a  low  voice  said,  "  Solomon,  the  last 
knight  of  thy  lineage  shall  rest  in  this  bed." 
With  this  Solomon  waked,  and  lo !  the  ship  was 
gone. 

This  was  the  story  that  the  fair  damsel,  Per- 
civale's  sister,  told  to  the  knights,  as  they  stood 
curiously  surveying  the  bed  and  the  spindles. 
Then  one  of  them  lifted  a  cloth  that  lay  on  the 
deck,  and  under  it  found  a  purse,  in  which  was  a 
written  paper,  telling  the  same  strange  story  they 
had  just  heard. 

"  The  sword  i*  here,"  said  Galahad ;  "  but  where 


THE   ADVENT  ORB  OP   THE   MAGIC   SHIP.         101 

shall  be  found  the  maiden  who  is  to  make  the  new 
girdle  ?" 

"  You  need  not  seek  far,"  said  Percivale's  sister. 
"  By  God's  leave,  I  have  been  chosen  to  make  that 
girdle,  and  have  it  here." 

Then  she  opened  a  box  which  she  had  brought 
with  her,  and  took  from  it  a  girdle  that  was  richly 
wrought  with  golden  threads  and  studded  with 
precious  stones,  while  its  buckle  was  of  polished 
gold. 

"  Lo,  lords  and  knights,"  she  said,  "  here  is  the 
destined  girdle.  The  greater  part  of  it  was  made 
of  my  hair,  which  I  loved  dearly  when  I  was  a 
woman  of  the  world.  When  I  knew  that  I  was 
set  aside  for  this  high  purpose,  I  cut  off  my  hair 
and  wrought  this  girdle  in  God's  name." 

"  Well  have  you  done  1"  cried  Bors.  "  Without 
you  we  would  have  learned  nothing  of  this  high 
emprise." 

Then  the  noble  maiden  removed  the  moan  girdle 
from  the  sword,  and  put  upon  it  the  rich  one  she 
had  brought,  which  became  it  wonderfully. 

"  By  what  name  shall  we  call  this  sword  ?"  they 
now  asked  her. 

"  Its  name  is,"  she  answered,  "  the  sword  with 
the  strange  girdle ;  and  that  of  the  sheath  is, 
mover  of  blood.  But  no  man  with  blood  in  him 
shall  ever  see  the  part  of  the  sheath  that  was 
made  of  the  tree  of  life." 

Then  she  took  the  sword  and  girded  it  about  Gal 
ahftd,  fastening  the  golden  buckle  about  his  waist 
9* 


102  THE   QUEST   OP   THE   HOLY   QEAIL. 

"  Now  reck  I  not  though  I  die,"  she  said,  "  for 
I  hold  that  I  am  one  of  the  world's  blessed 
maidens,  since  it  has  been  given  to  me  to  arm  the 
worthiest  knight  in  the  world." 

After  this  they  left  the  magic  ship  at  her  bid- 
ding, and  entered  the  one  in  which  they  had  come. 
And  immediately  there  rose  a  great  wind  which 
blew  their  vessel  from  between  the  rocks,  and 
carried  it  afar  over  the  sea. 


CHAPTBE  VII. 

HOW  LANCELOT  SAW  THE  SANQREAL. 

THE  ship  that  bore  the  three  knights  and  the 
maiden  came  ashore  at  length  near  a  castle  iu 
Scotland,  where  they  landed.  From  here  they 
journeyed  far,  while  many  were  their  adventures, 
all  of  which  tried  their  virtue  and  belonged  to  the 
quest  of  the  Sangreal.  In  them  all  the  sword 
with  the  strange  girdle  proved  of  such  marvel- 
lous worth  that  no  men,  were  they  a  hundred 
in  number,  could  stand  before  it. 

Finally  they  came  to  a  castle  which  had  the 
strange  custom  that  every  maiden  who  passed 
that  way  should  yield  a  dish  full  of  blood.  When 
they  asked  the  reason  of  this  dreadful  custom, 
they  were  told, — 

"There  is  in  this  castle  a  lady  to  whom  the 


HOW   LANCELOT   SAW   THE   8ANQREAL.          103 

domain  belongs,  and  who  has  lain  for  years  sick 
of  a  malady  which  no  leech  can  cure  And  a 
wise  man  has  said  that  she  can  only  be  cured  if 
she  have  a  dish  full  of  blood  from  a  pure  virgin 
and  a  king's  daughter,  with  which  to  anoint 
her." 

"  Fair  knights,"  said  Percivale's  sister,  "  I  alone 
can  aid  the  sick  lady,  who  must  die  otherwise." 

"  If  you  bleed  as  they  demand,  you  may  die," 
said  Galahad.  "  Is  not  your  life  worth  more  than 
hers  ?" 

"  This  I  answer,"  said  she.  "  If  I  yield  not  my 
blood  there  will  be  mortal  war  between  you  and 
the  knights  of  the  castle  to-morrow,  and  many 
men  must  die  that  one  woman  may  not  bleed. 
If  I  die  to  heal  this  sick  lady  I  shall  gain  renown 
and  do  God's  will,  and  surely  one  harm  is  better 
than  many.  That  you  will  fight  for  me  to  the 
death,  I  know,  but  wherefore  should  you?" 

Say  what  they  would,  she  held  to  her  will,  and 
the  next  morning  bade  the  people  of  the  castle 
bring  forth  the  sick  lady.  She  lay  in  great  pain 
and  suffering,  and  bent  her  eyes  pleadingly  on 
the  devoted  maiden. 

Then  Percivale's  sister  bared  her  arm,  and  bado 
them  bleed  her.  This  they  did  till  a  silver  dish 
was  filled  with  her  life  blood.  Then  she  blessed 
the  lady,  and  said, — 

"  Madam,  I  have  given  my  life  for  yours ;  for 
God's  love,  pray  for  me !"  and  she  fell  in  a  swoon. 

Galahad  and   his   fellows   hastened  to  stanch 


104      THE  QUEST  OP  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

the  blood,  but  it  was  too  late,  her  life  was  ebbing 
fast. 

"  Fair  brother  Percivale,"  she  said,  "  death  ia 
upon  me.  But  before  I  die  I  have  this  to  tell  you. 
It  is  written  that  I  shall  not  be  buried  in  tnis 
country.  When  I  am  dead,  seek  you  the  sea- 
shore near  by,  and  put  my  body  in  a  boat,  and  let 
it  go  where  fortune  bears  it.  But  when  you  three 
arrive  at  the  city  of  Sarras,  in  Palestine,  which 
you  will  in  God's  good  time,  you  shall  find  me 
arrived  there  before  you.  There  bury  me  in  con- 
secrated soil.  This  further  I  may  say,  that  there 
the  holy  Grail  shall  be  achieved,  and  there  shall 
Galahad  die  and  be  buried  in  the  same  place." 

And  as  they  stood  there  weeping  beside  her  :i 
voice  came  to  them,  saying, — 

"  Lords  and  comrades,  to-morrow  at  sunrise  you 
three  must  depart,  each  taking  his  own  way,  and 
you  shall  not  meet  again  till  adventure  bring  you 
to  the  maimed  king." 

After  that  all  was  done  as  had  been  foreseen 
and  desired.  The  maiden  died,  and  the  same  day 
the  sick  lady  was  healed,  through  the  virtue  of 
her  blood.  Then  Percivale  wrote  a  letter  telling 
who  she  was  and  what  things  she  had  done. 
This  he  put  in  her  right  hand,  and  laid  her  body 
in  a  vessel  that  was  covered  with  black  silk.  The 
wind  now  arose  and  drove  it  far  from  the  land, 
while  all  stood  watching  it  till  it  was  out  of  sight. 

Then  they  returned  towards  the  castle.  But 
suddenly  a  tempest  of  wind,  thunder,  and  rain 


THE  RUINED  CASTLE. 


HOW   LANCELOT   SAW   THE   8ANQREAL.          105 

broke  from  the  sky,  so  furious  that  the  very  earth 
seemed  to  be  torn  up.  And  as  they  looked  they 
saw  the  turrets  of  the  castle  and  part  of  its  walls 
totter  and  fall,  and  in  a  moment  come  crashing 
in  ruin  to  the  earth. 

That  night  they  slept  in  a  chapel,  and  in  the 
morning  rode  to  the  castle,  to  see  how  it  had  fared 
in  the  storm.  But  when  they  reached  it  they 
found  it  in  ruins,  while  of  all  that  had  dwelt 
there  not  one  was  left  alive.  All  of  them,  man 
and  woman  alike,  had  fallen  victims  to  the  ven- 
geance of  God.  And  they  heard  a  voice  that 
said, — 

"  This  vengeance  is  for  the  shedding  of  maidens' 
blood." 

But  at  the  end  of  the  chapel  was  a  church-yard 
in  which  were  threescore  tombs,  over  which  it 
seemed  no  tempest  had  passed.  And  in  these  lay 
all  the  maidens  who  had  shed  their  blood  and 
died  martyrs  for  the  sick  lady's  sake.  On  these 
were  their  names  and  lineage,  and  all  were  of 
royal  blood,  and  twelve  of  them  kings'  daughters. 

The  knights  turned  away,  marvelling  much  at 
what  they  had  seen  and  heard. 

"  Here  we  must  part,"  said  Galahad.  "  Let  us 
pray  that  we  may  soon  meet  again." 

Then  they  kissed  each  other,  and  wept  at  the 
parting,  and  each  rode  his  own  way  into  the  forest 
before  them. 

But  we  must  now  leave  them  and  return  to 
Lancelot,  whom  we  left  sorely  repentant  of  hie 


106      THE  QUBST  OF  THE  HOLY  QRAIL. 

sins.     After  he  departed  from  the  hermitage  he 
rode  through  many  lands  and  had  divers  adven 
tures,  and  in  the  end  came  to  the  sea-shore,  beside 
which  he  lay  down  and  slept. 

In  his  slumber,  words  came  to  his  ear,  saying, 
"  Lancelot,  rise  and  take  thine  armor,  and  enter 
into  the  first  ship  that  thou  shalt  find."  On  hear- 
ing these  words  he  started  up,  and  saw  that  all 
about  him  was  strangely  clear,  the  skies  giving 
out  a  light  like  that  of  midday.  Then  he  blessed 
himself,  and  took  his  arms,  and  advanced  to  the 
strand,  where  he  saw  a  ship  without  sails  or  oars. 
This  he  entered,  as  ho  had  been  bidden,  and  when 
he  was  within  it  his  heart  was  filled  with  such 
joy  as  he  had  never  before  known. 

Naught  had  he  ever  thought  of  or  desired  but 
what  seemed  come  to  him  now,  and  in  his  glad- 
ness he  returned  thanks  fervently  to  the  Lord. 

"I  know  not  what  has  happened  to  me,"  he 
said,  "  but  such  joy  as  I  feel  I  never  dreamed  the 
human  heart  could  hold." 

Then  he  lay  down  and  slept  on  the  ship's  deck, 
and  when  he  woke  the  night  had  passed  and  it 
was  broad  day. 

And  in  the  ship  he  found  a  bed,  whereon  lay  a 
dead  lady,  with  a  letter  in  her  right  hand  which 
Lancelot  read.  From  this  he  learned  that  the 
fair  corpse  was  that  of  Percivale's  sister,  together 
w!th  many  of  the  strange  things  that  had  hap- 
pened to  her  and  the  chosen  knights. 

For  a1  month  or  more  Lancelot  abode  in  this 


HOW   LANCELOT   SAW   THE   SANQBBAL.          107 

ship,  driven  about  the  seas,  and  sustained  by  no 
food,  but  by  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  for  he 
prayed  fervently  for  God's  aid  night  and  morning. 

At  length  came  a  night  when  the  ship  touched 
the  shore.  Here  he  landed,  being  somewhat  weary 
of  the  deck.  And  as  he  stood  on  the  strand  he 
heard  a  horse  approach,  and  soon  one  rode  by  that 
seemed  a  knight. 

When  he  came  to  the  ship  he  checked  his  horse 
and  alighted.  Then,  taking  the  saddle  and  bridle 
from  the  horse,  he  turned  it  free  and  entered  the 
ship.  Lancelot,  in  surprise,  drew  near. 

"  Fair  knight,"  he  said,  "  I  know  not  who  you 
are  or  why  you  come.  But  since  you  seek  pas- 
sage on  my  ship  you  are  welcome." 

The  other  saluted  him  in  turn,  and  asked, — 

"  What  is  your  name  ?  I  pray  you,  tell  me,  for 
my  heart  warms  strangely  towards  you." 

"  My  name  is  Lancelot  du  Lake." 

"  Then  are  we  well  met  indeed.  You  are  my 
father." 

"  Ah  !  then  you  are  Galahad  ?" 

"  Yes,  truly,"  and  as  he  spoke  he  took  off  his 
helm,  and  kneeled,  and  asked  his  blessing. 

Joyful  indeed  was  that  meeting,  and  gladly 
there  father  and  son  communed,  telling  each 
other  all  that  had  happened  to  them  since  they 
left  the  court.  When  Galahad  saw  the  dead 
maiden  he  knew  her  well,  and  told  his  father  the 
story  of  the  sword,  at  which  he  marvelled  greatly. 

"  Truly,  Galahad,"  he  said,  "  I  never  heard  of 


108      THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

aught  so  strange,  and  can  well  believe  you  were 
born  for  wondrous  deeds." 

Afterwards  for  nearly  half  a  year  the  father 
and  son  dwelt  together  within  that  ship,  serving 
God  day  and  night  with  prayer  and  praise.  Now 
they  touched  on  peopled  shores,  and  now  on 
desert  islands  where  only  wild  beasts  abode,  and 
perilous  and  strange  adventures  they  met.  But 
these  we  shall  not  tell,  since  they  had  naught  to 
do  with  the  Sangroal. 

But  at  length  came  a  Monday  morning  when 
the  ship  touched  shore  at  the  edge  of  a  forest, 
before  a  cross,  where  they  saw  a  knight  armed  all 
in  white,  and  leading  a  white  horse.  He  saluted 
them  courteously,  and  said, — 

"Galahad,  you  have  been  long  enough  with 
your  father.  You  must  now  leave  the  ship,  and 
take  this  horse,  and  ride  whither  destiny  shall  lead 
you  in  the  quest  of  the  Sangreal." 

Hearing  this  command,  Galahad  kissed  his 
father,  and  bade  him  farewell,  saying, — 

"  Dear  father,  I  know  not  if  we  shall  ever  meet 
again." 

"Then  I  bid  you,"  said  Lancelot,  "to  pray  to 
the  great  Father  that  He  hold  me  in  His  service." 

There  came  in  answer  a  mysterious  voice  that 
spoke  these  words, — 

"Think  each  to  do  well;  for  you  shall  never 
Bee  each  other  till  the  dreadful  day  of  doom." 

This  voice  of  destiny  affected  them  greatly,  and 
they  bade  each  other  a  tearful  farewell,  Lancelot 


HOW   LANCELOT   SAW   THX   SANQBHAL.          109 

begging  again  the  prayers  of  his  son  in  his  behalf. 
Then  Galahad  mounted  the  white  horse  and  rode 
into  the  forest,  while  a  wind  arose  which  blew  the 
ship  from  shore,  and  for  a  month  drove  it  up  and 
down  the  seas. 

But  at  length  came  a  night  when  it  touched 
shore  on  the  rear  side  of  a  fair  and  stately  castle. 
Brightly  shone  the  moon,  and  Lancelot  saw  an 
open  postern  in  which  stood  on  guard  two  great 
lions.  As  he  looked  he  heard  a  voice. 

"  Lancelot,"  it  said,  "  leave  this  ship  and  enter 
the  castle.  There  shalt  thou  see  a  part  of  that 
which  thou  desirost." 

Lancelot  at  this  armed  himself  and  went  to  the 
gate,  where  the  lions  rose  rampant  against  him. 
With  an  instinct  of  fear  he  drew  his  sword,  but 
at  that  instant  appeared  a  dwarf,  who  struck  him 
on  the  arm  so  sharply  that  the  sword  fell  from 
his  hand. 

"  Oh,  man  of  evil  hope  and  weak  belief,"  came 
the  mysterious  voice,  "  trust  you  more  in  your 
armor  than  in  your  Maker  ?  Does  He  who  brought 
you  hero  need  a  sword  for  your  protection  ?" 

"  Truly  am  I  reproved,"  said  Lancelot.  "  Happy 
am  I  to  be  held  the  Lord's  ward  and  servant." 

He  took  up  his  sword  and  put  it  in  the  sheath, 
then  made  a  cross  on  his  forehead,  and  advanced 
to  the  lions,  which  raged  and  showed  their  teeth 
as  if  ready  to  rend  him  in  pieces.  Yet  with  a 
bold  step  and  tranquil  mien  he  passed  between 
them  unhurt,  and  entered  the  castle. 
10 


110      THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  QRAIL. 

Through  it  he  went,  room  by  room,  passage  by 
passage,  for  every  door  stood  wide  and  no  living 
being  met  him  as  ho  advanced.  Finally  he  came 
to  a  chamber  whose  door  was  closed,  and  which 
yielded  not  to  his  hand  when  he  sought  to  open 
it.  He  tried  again  with  all  his  force,  but  the  door 
resisted  his  strength. 

Then  he  listened,  and  heard  a  voice  that  sang 
more  sweetly  than  he  had  ever  heard.  And  the 
words  seemed  to  him  to  be,  "  Joy  and  honor  be 
to  the  Father  of  Heaven  I" 

Lancelot  no  longer  sought  to  open  the  dooi, 
but  kneeled  before  it,  feeling  in  his  heart  that  the 
Sangreal  was  within  that  chamber. 

"  Sweet  Father  Jesus,"  he  prayed,  "  if  ever  I 
did  aught  in  thy  service,  in  pity  forgive  me  my 
sins,  and  show  me  something  of  that  which  I 
seek." 

As  be  prayed  the  door  opened  without  hands, 
and  from  the  room  came  a  light  brighter  than  if 
all  the  torches  of  the  world  had  been  there.  He 
rose  in  joy  to  enter,  but  the  voice  spoke  sternly  in 
his  ear, — 

"  Forbear,  Lancelot,  and  seek  not  to  enter  here. 
If  you  enter,  you  shall  repent  it  dearly." 

Then  he  drew  back  hastily,  and  looked  into  the 
chamber,  where  he  saw  a  table  of  silver,  on  which 
was  the  holy  vessel  covered  with  red  samite,  with 
angels  about  it,  one  of  which  held  a  burning 
candle  of  wax,  and  one  a  cross.  And  before  the 
holy  vessel  stood  a  priest,  who  seemed  to  be 


HOW   LANCELOT   SAW   THE   SANGREAL,          111 

serving  the  mass.  In  front  of  the  priest  ap- 
peared to  be  three  men,  two  of  whom  put  the 
youngest  between  the  priest's  hands,  who  neld 
him  up  high  as  if  to  show  him.  Yet  so  heavy 
seemed  the  figure  that  the  priest  appeared  ready 
to  fall  with  weakness,  and  with  a  sudden  impulse 
Lancelot  rushed  into  the  room,  crying,  "Fair 
Lord  Jesus,  hold  it  no  sin  that  I  help  the  good 
man,  who  seems  in  utmost  need." 

But  as  he  rashly  entered  and  came  towards  the 
table  of  silver,  a  breath  that  seemed  half  fire 
smote  him  so  hotly  in  the  face  that  he  fell  heavily 
to  the  earth,  and  lay  like  one  bereft  of  all  his 
senses.  Then  many  hands  seemed  to  take  him 
up,  and  bear  him  without  the  door,  where  he  lay 
to  all  seeming  dead. 

When  morning  dawned  he  was  found  there  by 
the  people  of  the  castle,  who  marvelled  how  he 
got  there,  and  could  not  be  sure  if  he  were  dead 
or  alive.  But  they  laid  him  in  a  bed,  and  watched 
him  closely,  for  days  passed  without  signs  of  life 
or  death.  At  length,  on  the  twenty-fifth  day,  he 
gave  a  deep  sigh,  and  opened  his  eyes,  and  gazed 
in  wonder  on  the  people  about  him. 

"Why  have  you  wakened  me?"  he  cried. 
"  Why  left  you  me  not  to  my  blessed  visions  ?" 

"  What  have  you  seen  ?"  they  asked,  eagerly. 

"  Such  marvels  as  no  tongue  can  tell  nor  ear 
understand,"  he  said.  "  And  more  had  I  seen  but 
that  my  son  was  here  before  me.  For  God's  love, 
gentlemen  tell  me  where  I  am." 


112  THE   QUEST   OF  TELE   HOLY   GSAIL. 

"  Sir,  you  are  in  the  castle  of  Carbonek." 

"  I  thank  God  of  His  great  mercy  for  what  1 
have  seen,"  he  said.  "  Now  may  I  leave  the  quest 
of  the  Sangreal,  for  more  of  it  shall  I  never  see, 
and  few  men  living  shall  see  so  much." 

These  words  said,  he  arose  and  dressed  in  new 
clothing  that  they  brought  him,  and  stood  in  hia 
old  strength  and  beauty  before  the  people. 

"  Sir  Lancelot  I"  they  cried,  "  is  it  you  ?" 

"  Truly  so,"  he  answered. 

Then  word  was  brought  to  King  Pellam,  the 
maimed  king,  who  now  dwelt  in  that  castle,  that 
the  knight  who  had  lain  so  long  between  death 
and  life  was  Lancelot.  Glad  was  the  king  tc 
hear  this,  and  he  bade  them  bring  Lancelot  to 
him. 

"  Long  has  my  daughter  Elaine  been  dead,"  he 
said.  "  But  happy  she  lived  in  having  been  loved 
by  you,  and  in  the  grace  of  her  noble  son  Gala- 
had." 

"I  was  but  cold  to  her,"  answered  Lancelot, 
"  for  she  was  a  lovable  lady.  But  in  truth  I  have 
been  held  from  love  and  life's  delights,  for  my 
fate  has  not  been  my  own  to  control." 

For  four  days  he  abode  at  the  castle,  and  then 
took  his  armor  and  horse,  saying  that  now  his 
quest  of  the  Sangreal  was  done,  and  duty  bade 
him  return  to  Camelot. 

Back  through  many  realms  he  rode,  and  in  time 
came  to  the  abbey  where  Galahad  had  won  the 
white  shield.  Here  he  spent  the  night,  and  the 


THE  DEEDS  OF  THE  THREE  CHOSEN  KNIGHTS.   113 

next  day  rode  into  Camelot,  where  he  was  received 
with  untold  joy  by  Arthur  and  the  queen. 

For  of  the  Knights  of  the  Eound  Table  who 
had  set  out  on  that  perilous  quest  more  than 
half  had  perished,  and  small  was  the  tale  of  that 
gallant  fellowship  that  could  now  be  mustered. 
So  the  coming  of  Lancelot  filled  all  hearts  with 
joy. 

Great  was  the  marvel  of  the  king  when  Lance- 
lot told  him  of  what  he  had  seen  and  done,  and 
of  the  adventures  of  Galahad,  Percivale,  and 
Bors. 

"  God  send  that  they  were  all  here  again,"  said 
the  king. 

"  That  shall  never  be,"  said  Lancelot.  "  One 
of  them  shall  come  again,  but  two  you  shall  never 
see." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE   DEEDS   OF   THE   THBEE   CHOSEN    KNIOHT8. 

AFTER  Galahad  left  the  ship  and  his  father 
Lancelot,  he  rode  far  and  had  many  adventures, 
righting  many  wrongs  and  achieving  many  mar- 
vels. Among  these  he  came  to  the  abbey  where 
was  the  ancient  King  Evelake,  who  had  laid 
blind  three  hundred  years,  as  we  have  elsewhere 
told. 

The  old  king  knew  well  that  his  deliverance 
VOL.  III.— A  10* 


114      THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  GRAIL. 

had  come,  and  begged  to  be  embraced  by  the 
pious  youth.  No  sooner  had  he  been  clasped  in 
his  arms  than  his  sight  returned,  and  his  flesh 
grew  whole  and  young. 

"  Now,  sweet  Saviour,  my  destiny  is  fulfilled  ; 
receive  thou  my  soul,"  he  prayed. 

As  he  said  these  words  the  soul  left  his  body, 
and  the  miracle  of  his  fate  was  achieved. 

Many  days  after  this  Galahad  met  Percivale, 
and  soon  the  two  came  upon  Bors,  as  he  rode  out 
of  a  great  forest,  that  extended  many  days'  jour- 
ney through  the  land. 

And  so  they  rode  in  glad  companionship,  with 
many  a  tale  of  marvel  to  tell,  till  in  time  they 
came  to  the  castle  of  Carbonek,  where  they  were 
gladly  received,  for  those  in  the  castle  knew  that 
the  quest  of  the  Sangreal  was  now  wellnigh 
achieved. 

"When  evening  approached,  and  the  table  for 
supper  was  set,  the  mysterious  voice  that  so  often 
had  guided  these  knights  spoke  again. 

"  They  that  are  not  worthy  to  sit  at  the  table 
of  Jesus  Christ  arise,"  it  said  ;  "  for  now  shall  the 
worthiest  be  fed." 

Then  all  arose  save  Bliazar,  the  son  of  King 
Pellam,  and  a  maid  who  was  his  niece,  and  the 
three  knights.  But  as  they  sat  at  supper  nine 
other  knights,  in  full  armor,  entered  at  the  hall 
door,  and  took  off  their  helmets  and  armor,  and 
said  to  Galahad, — 

"  Sir,  we  have  come  far  and  in  haste  to  be  with 


THE  DEEDS  OF  THE  THREE  CHOSEN  KNIGHTS.   115 

you  at  this  table,  where  the  holy  meat  shall  be 
served." 

"  If  you  are  worthy,  you  are  welcome,"  said 
Galahad.  "  Whence  come  you  ?" 

Three  of  them  answered  that  they  were  from 
Gaul,  three  from  Ireland,  and  three  from  Den- 
mark, and  that  they  had  come  thither  at  the 
bidding  of  the  strange  voice. 

So  they  all  sat  at  table.  But  ere  they  began  to 
eat,  four  gentlewomen  bore  into  the  hall  a  bed, 
whereon  lay  a  man  sick,  with  a  crown  of  gold  on 
his  head.  Setting  him  down,  they  went  away. 

"Galahad,  holy  knight,  you  are  welcome,"  said 
he  who  lay  in  the  bed,  raising  his  head  feebly. 
"  Long  have  I  waited  your  coming,  in  pain  and 
anguish,  since  Balin,  the  good  knight,  struck  me 
the  dolorous  stroke.  To  you  I  look  for  aid  and 
release  from  my  long  suffering." 

Then  spoke  the  voice  again :  "  There  be  those 
here  who  are  not  in  the  quest  of  the  Sangreal ; 
let  them  depart."  And  the  son  and  niece  of  the 
king  rose  and  left  the  room. 

Then  there  came  suddenly  four  angels,  and  a 
man  who  bore  a  cross  and  wore  the  dress  of  a 
bishop,  whom  the  angels  placed  in  a  chair  before 
the  silver  table  of  the  Sangreal.  In  his  forehead 
were  letters  which  said,  "  This  is  Joseph,  the  first 
bishop  of  Christendom." 

Next  opened  the  chamber  door,  and  angela 
entered,  two  bearing  wax  candles,  the  third  a 
towel,  and  the  fourth  a  spear  that  bled,  the  blood 


116  THE   QUEST   OF   THE   HOLY   QRAIL. 

drops  falling  into  a  silver  vessel  which  he  held  in 
his  other  hand.  The  candles  were  set  on  the 
table,  the  towel  spread  upon  the  vessel,  and  the 
spear  set  upright  on  this. 

The  bishop  then  said  mass,  at  which  other 
strange  signs  were  seen ;  for  a  figure  like  a  child, 
with  a  face  that  shone  like  name,  entered  into  the 
bread  of  the  sacrament.  Then  the  bishop  kissed 
Galahad,  and  bade  him  kiss  his  fellows.  This 
done,  he  said, — 

"  Servants  of  Jesus  Christ,  ye  shall  here  be  fed 
on  such  meats  as  never  knights  tasted ;"  and  with 
these  words  he  vanished. 

But  as  they  knelt  in  prayer  before  the  table, 
they  saw  come  out  of  the  holy  vessel  a  man 
who  bore  all  the  signs  of  the  passion  of  Jesus 
Christ.  And  he  took  up  the  vessel  and  bore  it  to 
Galahad  and  to  the  other  knights,  who  kneeled  to 
receive  the  sacrament ;  and  so  sweet  was  it  that 
their  hearts  marvelled  and  were  filled  with  joy. 

"  Now  have  you  tasted  of  Christ's  own  food," 
he  said,  "  and  seen  what  you  highly  and  holily 
desired.  But  more  openly  shall  you  see  it  in  the 
city  of  Sarras,  in  the  spiritual  place.  Therefore 
you  must  go  hence,  for  this  night  the  holy  vessel 
will  leave  this  realm,  and  will  never  more  be  seen 
here.  To-morrow  you  three  shall  go  to  the  sea, 
where  a  ship  awaits  you ;  and  you  must  take  with 
you  the  sword  with  the  strange  girdle." 

"  Shall  not  these  good  knights  go  also  ?"  asked 
Galahad. 


THX   DEEDS    OF   THE    THREE    CHOSEN    KNIGHTS.       117 

"  Not  so.  They  have  seen  all  that  is  fitting  to 
them.  As  for  you,  two  of  you  shall  die  in  my 
service,  and  the  third  shall  return  and  tell  what 
he  has  seen." 

Then  he  gave  them  his  blessing,  and  vanished 
from  out  their  midst. 

When  they  had  somewhat  recovered  from  the 
weight  of  these  marvels,  Galahad  went  to  the 
spear  that  lay  on  the  table,  and  touched  the  blood 
with  his  fingers,  and  with  it  anointed  the  wounds 
of  the  maimed  king.  And  at  this  touch  he  started 
up  whole  and  strong,  thanking  God  fervently  for 
his  healing. 

But  he  went  not  into  the  world  again,  but  to  a 
monastery  of  white  monks,  where  he  became  a 
man  of  holy  renown. 

At  midnight  came  a  voice  to  the  nine  knights, 
which  said, — 

"  My  sons,  and  not  my  chieftains ;  my  friends, 
and  not  my  warriors ;  go  ye  hence,  and  do  well 
what  comes  to  you,  in  my  service." 

"  Lord,"  they  replied,  "  wilt  thou  vouchsafe  also 
to  call  us  thy  sinners  ?  Thy  servants  we  shall  be 
henceforth." 

And  they  arose,  armed,  and  departed,  bidding 
a  solemn  adieu  to  the  three  knights.  When 
morning  dawned  these  three  rose  also,  and  rode 
till  they  came  to  the  sea.  Here  awaited  them  the 
ship  wherein  they  had  found  the  sword  and  the 
three  magic  spindles,  and  to  their  wonder  and 
delight  the  beheld  in  its  midst  the  table  of  silver 


118      THI  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLT  QUAIL. 

and  the  Sangreal,  which  was  covered  with  red 
samite. 

It  was  a  joyous  company  that  sailed  over  the 
sea  in  that  magical  ship,  and  at  the  wish  of  his 
comrades  Galahad  slept  in  the  bed  where  the 
sword  had  lain,  and  Bors  and  Percivale  on  the 
deck  beside  him. 

And  so  they  went  by  day  and  by  night,  and  at 
length  came  to  the  city  of  Sarras.  Here,  as  they 
would  have  landed,  they  saw  beside  them,  just 
come  to  shore,  the  ship  that  bore  the  corpse  of 
Percivale's  sister,  and  this  as  fair  and  as  fresh  as 
when  first  placed  within  it. 

Then  they  took  up  the  silver  table  and  bore  it 
to  the  city,  at  whose  gate  sat  an  old  and  crooked 
cripple. 

"  Come  hither,  and  help  us  carry  this  heavy 
thing,"  said  Galahad. 

"  How  shall  I  do  that  ?  I  have  not  gone  for  ten 
years  without  crutches." 

"  No  matter  for  that.  Show  your  good  will  by 
trying." 

Then  the  cripple  rose  and  took  hold,  and  in 
that  instant  he  was  whole  and  strong,  and  helped 
them  bear  the  table  to  the  palace.  This  done,  they 
returned,  and  bore  to  the  palace  the  corpse  of 
Percivale's  sister,  which  they  placed  in  a  rich 
tomb,  suited  to  a  king's  daughter. 

Meanwhile  the  report  had  spread  through  the 
city  that  a  cripple  had  been  made  whole  by  three 
strange  knights,  and  people  flocked  to  see  them. 


THE  DEEDS  OF  THE  THREE  CHOSEN  KNIGHTS.   119 

When  the  king  of  the  city  saw  and  heard  all 
this,  he  came  to  the  knights  and  asked  them  who 
they  were,  and  what  it  was  they  had  brought  into 
his  realm. 

Galahad  answered  him,  telling  of  the  marvel 
of  the  Sangreal,  and  of  God's  power  and  grace 
therein. 

But  the  king,  Estorause,  a  tyrant  in  will  and  a 
pagan  in  faith,  heard  this  with  wrath  and  un- 
belief, and  ordered  the  knights  to  be  put  in  prison 
as  spies  and  felons. 

For  a  whole  year  they  lay  thus  in  prison,  yet 
were  always  kept  whole  and  in  good  spirits ;  for 
the  holy  Sangreal  came  to  them  in  their  dungeons, 
and  filled  their  souls  with  joy.  When  the  year 
ended,  Estorause  grew  sick  unto  death,  and  in 
remorse  sent  for  the  imprisoned  knights,  whose 
pardon  and  forgiveness  he  fervently  begged.  This 
they  gave  him,  and  he  straightway  died. 

His  death  threw  the  city  into  dismay,  for  he 
had  left  no  successor  to  the  throne.  But  as  the 
lords  sat  in  council  there  came  a  voice  that  bade 
them  choose  the  youngest  of  the  three  knights 
for  their  king.  This  mysterious  behest  was  told 
to  the  citizens,  and  with  one  acclaim  they  hailed 
it  as  God's  will,  and  demanded  Galahad  as  their 
king. 

Thereupon  he  became  king  of  Sarras,  though  it 
was  not  his  wish ;  but  he  felt  it  to  be  God's  com- 
mand. And  when  he  came  to  the  throne  he  had 
constructed  a  chest  of  gold  and  precious  stones,  in 


120      THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 

which  was  placed  the  table  of  silver  with  the  holy 
vessel,  and  before  this  the  three  knights  kneeled 
and  prayed  daily  with  fervent  zeal. 

And  so  time  rolled  on  till  came  the  day  that  was 
the  anniversary  of  that  in  which  Galahad  had 
taken  the  crown.  On  this  morning  he  rose  be- 
times, and  before  the  holy  vessel  he  saw  a  man 
dressed  like  a  bishop,  while  round  about  him  was 
a  great  fellowship  of  angels. 

"  Come  forth,  thou  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
thou  shalt  see  what  thou  hast  so  much  desired," 
said  the  bishop. 

Then  Galahad  began  to  tremble,  his  flesh  quak- 
ing in  the  presence  of  things  spiritual.  And  he 
held  his  hands  up  towards  heaven,  saying, — 

"  Lord,  I  thank  thee,  for  now  my  desire  is  ful- 
filled. And  if  it  be  thy  will  that  I  should  come 
to  thee,  I  wish  no  longer  to  live." 

"  I  am  Joseph  of  Arimathea,"  said  the  strange 
presence,  "  and  am  sent  by  the  Lord  to  bear  thee 
fellowship.  Thou  resemblest  me  in  two  things ; 
for  thou  hast  seen  the  highest  marvel  of  the  San- 
greal,  and  are  pure  of  heart  and  of  body.  Now 
say  farewell  to  thy  comrades,  for  thy  time  is  come 
to  depart." 

Galahad  thereupon  went  to  Percivale  and  JBors, 
and  kissed  them,  and  commended  them  to  God, 
saying  to  Bors, — 

"  Fair  friend,  who  art  destined  to  return  to  our 
native  realm,  salute  for  me  my  lord  and  father 
Lancelot,  and  bid  him  remember  the  evils  of  this 


rax   DEEDS   OF  THE   THREE   CHOSEN    KNIGHTS.      121 

unstable  world,  and  bear  in  mind  the  duty  he  has 
been  taught." 

Then  he  kneeled  before  the  table  and  prayed 
fervently,  and  suddenly  his  soul  departed  from  his 
body,  a  multitude  of  angels  bearing  it  visibly 
upward  toward  heaven,  in  full  view  of  his  late 
comrades.  Also  they  saw  come  from  heaven  a 
hand,  with  no  body  visible,  and  take  up  the  holy 
vessel  and  the  spear,  and  bear  them  to  heaven. 
And  from  that  moment  no  man  ever  saw  on  earth 
again  the  blessed  Sangreal. 

Afterwards  Galahad's  body  was  buried  with 
great  honor,  and  with  many  tears  from  his  two 
fellows  and  from  the  people  whom  he  had  gov- 
erned. Then  Percivale  betook  him  to  a  hermit- 
age, and  entered  upon  a  religious  life  ;  while  Bors 
stayed  with  him,  but  in  secular  clothing,  for  it  was 
his  purpose  to  return  to  England. 

Fora  year  and  two  months  Percivalo  lived  thus 
the  holy  life  of  a  hermit,  and  then  he  passed  out 
of  this  world,  and  was  buried  by  Bors — who 
mourned  him  as  deeply  as  ever  man  was 
mourned — beside  his  sister  and  Galahad.  This 
pious  office  performed,  Sir  Bors,  the  last  of  the 
three  chosen  knights,  felt  that  his  duty  in  that 
land  was  at  an  end,  and  thereupon  took  ship  at  the 
city  of  Sarras  and  sailed  for  the  realm  of  England, 
where  he  in  good  season  arrived.  Here  he  took 
horse  and  rode  in  all  haste  to  Camelot,  where 
King  Arthur  and  the  court  then  were,  and  where 
he  was  received  with  the  greatest  joy  and  wonder, 
F  11 


122  THE   QUEST  OF   THE    HOLT    GRAIL. 

for  BO  long  had  it  been  since  any  man  there  had 
set  eyes  on  him,  that  all  believed  him  to  be  dead. 

But  greater  than  their  wonder  was  their  ad- 
miration when  the  returned  knight  told  the  story 
of  miracle  and  adventure  which  had  befallen 
him  and  his  two  comrades,  and  the  pious  maid, 
Percivale's  sister,  and  of  the  holy  life  and  death 
of  Galahad  and  Percivale.  This  marvellous  nar- 
rative the  king  had  told  again  to  skilled  clerks, 
that  they  might  put  upon  record  the  wonderful 
deeds  of  these  good  knights.  And  it  was  all 
written  down  in  great  books,  which  were  put  in 
safe  keeping  at  Salisbury. 

Bors  then  gave  to  Lancelot  the  message  which 
his  son  had  sent  him,  and  Lancelot  took  him  in 
his  arms,  saying,  "  Gentle  cousin,  gladly  do  I 
welcome  you  again.  Never  while  we  live  shall  we 
part,  but  shall  ever  be  true  friends  and  brothers 
while  life  may  last  to  us." 

And  thus  came  to  an  end  the  marvellous  and 
unparalleled  adventure  of  the  Holy  Grail. 


BOOK  X. 

THE  LOVE  OF  LANCELOT  AND  GlENEVER. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE   POISONING   OF   SIR   PATRISE. 

AFTER  the  quest  of  the  Sangreal  was  ended,  and 
all  the  knights  who  were  left  alive  had  come  again 
to  Camelot,  there  was  great  joy  in  the  court,  with 
feasts  and  merrymakings,  that  this  fortunate  rem- 
nant might  find  a  glad  welcome.  Above  all,  King 
Arthur  and  Queen  Gruenever  were  full  of  joy  in 
the  return  of  Lancelot  and  Bors,  both  from  the 
love  they  bore  them  and  the  special  honor  they 
had  gained  in  the  quest. 

But,  as  is  man's  way,  holy  thoughts  vanished 
with  the  holy  task  that  gave  them  rise,  the  knights 
went  back  to  their  old  fashions  and  frailties,  and 
in  Lancelot's  heart  his  earthly  love  for  the  queen 
soon  rose  again,  and  his  love  of  heaven  and  holy 
thoughts  grew  dim  as  the  days  went  by.  Alas 
that  it  should  have  been  so !  for  such  an  unholy 
passion  could  but  lead  to  harm.  To  fatal  ills, 
indeed,  it  led,  and  to  the  end  of  Arthur's  reign 
and  of  the  worshipful  fellowship  of  the  Table 
Bound,  as  it  is  our  sorrowful  duty  now  to  tell. 

128 


124      THE   LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   AND    QUENEVEE. 

All  this  began  in  the  scandal  that  was  raised 
in  the  court  by  the  close  companionship  between 
Lancelot  and  the  queen.  Whisper  of  this  secret 
talk  at  length  came  to  that  good  knight's  ears,  and 
he  withdrew  from  Queen  Guenever  as  much  as 
he  could,  giving  himself  to  the  society  of  other 
ladies  of  the  court,  with  design  to  overcome  the 
evil  activity  of  slanderous  tongues. 

This  withdrawal  filled  the  queen  with  jealous 
anger,  and  she  accused  him  bitterly  of  coldness  in 
his  love. 

"  Madam,"  said  Lancelot,  "  only  that  love  for 
you  clung  desperately  to  my  heart,  and  drove  out 
heavenly  thoughts,  I  should  have  gained  as  great 
honor  in  the  quest  of  the  Sangreal  as  even  my 
son  Galahad.  My  love  is  still  yours,  but  I  fear  to 
show  it,  for  there  are  those  of  the  court  who  love 
me  not,  such  as  Agravaine  and  Mordred,  and  these 
evil-thinking  knights  are  spreading  vile  reports 
wherever  they  may.  It  is  for  this  I  make  show 
of  delight  in  other  ladies'  society,  to  cheat  the 
bitter  tongue  of  slander." 

To  this  the  queen  listened  with  heaving  breast 
and  burning  cheek.  But  at  the  end  she  burst  into 
bitter  tears  and  sobs,  and  wept  so  long  that 
Lancelot  stood  in  dismay.  When  she  could  speak, 
she  called  him  recreant  and  false,  declared  she 
should  never  love  him  more,  and  bade  him  leave 
the  court,  and  on  pain  of  his  head  never  come 
near  her  again. 

This  filled  the  faithful  lover  with  the  deepest 


THE   POISONING   07   SIB   PATRI8K.  125 

grief  and  pain  j  yet  there  was  anger,  too,  for  he 
felt  that  the  queen  had  shut  her  ears  to  reason,  and 
had  let  causeless  jealousy  blind  her.  So,  without 
further  words,  he  turned  and  sought  his  room, 
prepared  to  leave  the  court.  He  sent  for  Hector, 
Bors,  and  Lionel,  and  told  them  what  had  hap- 
pened, and  that  he  intended  to  leave  England  and 
return  to  his  native  land. 

"  If  you  take  my  advice  you  will  do  nothing  so 
rash,"  said  Bors.  "  Know  you  not  that  women 
are  hasty  to  act,  and  quick  to  repent  ?  This  is  not 
the  first  time  the  queen  has  been  angry  with  you ; 
nor  will  her  repentance  be  a  new  experience." 

"You  speak  truly,"  said  Lancelot.  "I  will 
ride,  therefore,  to  the  hermitage  of  Brasias,  near 
"Windsor,  and  wait  there  till  I  hear  from  you  if 
my  lady  Guenever  changes  her  mood.  I  pray  you 
do  your  best  to  get  me  her  love  again." 

"  That  needs  no  prayer.  Well  you  know  I  will 
do  my  utmost  in  your  behalf." 

Then  Lancelot  departed  in  haste,  none  but  Bors 
knowing  whither  he  had  gone.  But  the  queen 
showed  no  sign  of  sorrow  at  his  going,  however 
deeply  she  may  have  felt  it  in  her  heart.  In 
countenance  she  remained  serene  and  proud,  as 
though  the  world  went  well  with  her,  and  her 
heart  was  free  from  care. 

Her  desire,  indeed,  to  show  that  she  took  as 

much  joy  in  the  society  of  other  knights  as  in  that 

of  Lancelot  led  to  a  woful  and  perilous  event, 

which  we  have  next  to  describe.     For  she  gave  a 

11* 


126      THI   LOV*   OF   LANCELOT   AND   GHTENITEK. 

private  dinner,  to  which  she  invited  Gawaine  and 
his  brethren  and  other  knights,  to  the  number  of 
twenty-four  in  all.  A  rich  feast  it  was,  with  all 
manner  of  dainties  and  rare  devices.  Much  was 
the  joy  and  merriment  of  the  feasting  knights. 

As  it  happened,  Gawaine  had  a  great  love  for 
fruits,  especially  apples  and  pears,  which  he  ate 
daily  at  dinner  and  supper ;  and  all  who  invited 
him  to  dine  took  care  to  provide  his  favorite 
fruits.  This  the  queen  failed  not  to  do.  But 
there  was  at  the  feast  an  enemy  of  Gawaine's, 
named  Pinel  le  Savage,  who  was  a  cousin  of 
Lamorak  de  Galis,  and  had  long  hated  Gawaine 
fbr  the  murder  of  that  noble  knight. 

To  obtain  revenge  on  him,  Pinel  poisoned  some 
of  the  apples,  feeling  sure  that  only  Gawaine 
would  eat  them.  But  by  unlucky  chance  a  knight 
named  Patrise,  cousin  to  Mador  de  la  Porte,  eat 
one  of  the  poisoned  apples.  So  deadly  was  the 
venom  that  in  a  moment  he  was  in  agony,  and 
very  soon  it  so  filled  his  veins  that  he  fell  dead 
from  his  seat. 

Then  was  terror  and  wrath,  as  the  knights 
sprang  in  haste  and  turmoil  from  their  seats.  For 
they  saw  that  Patrise  had  been  poisoned,  and  sus- 
picion naturally  fell  upon  the  queen,  the  giver  of 
the  feast. 

"  My  lady,  the  queen,"  cried  Gawaine  in  anger, 
"  what  thing  is  this  we  see  ?  This  fate,  I  deem,  was 
meant  for  me,  since  the  fruit  was  provided  for  my 
taste  Madam,  what  shall  I  think  ?  Has  this 


THX    POISONING   OF   SIB    PATRI8E.  127 

good  knight  taken  on  himself  the  death  that  was 
intended  to  be  mine  ?" 

The  queen  made  no  answer,  being  so  confused 
and  terrified  that  she  knew  not  what  to  say. 

"  This  affair  shall  not  end  here,"  cried  Mador  de 
la  Porte  in  great  wrath.  "Here  lies  a  noble 
knight  of  my  near  kindred,  slain  by  poison  and 
treason.  For  this  I  shall  have  revenge  to  the 
utterance.  Queen  Guenever,  I  hold  you  guilty  of 
the  murder  of  my  cousin,  Sir  Patrise.  I  demand 
from  the  laws  of  the  realm  and  the  justice  of  our 
lord  the  king  redress  for  this  deed.  A  knight 
like  this  shall  not  fall  unrevenged,  while  I  can 
wield  spear  or  hold  sword." 

The  queen,  at  this  hot  accusation,  looked  appeal- 
ingly  from  face  to  face  ;  but  all  stood  grave  and 
silent,  fbr  greatly  they  suspected  her  of  the  crime. 
Then,  seeing  that  she  had  not  a  friend  in  the 
room,  she  burst  into  a  passion  of  tears,  and  at 
length  fell  to  the  floor  in  a  swoon. 

The  story  of  this  sad  business  soon  spread 
through  the  court,  and  quickly  came  to  the  ears 
of  the  king,  who  hastened  to  the  banqueting  hall 
full  of  trouble  at  what  he  had  heard.  When 
Mador  saw  him,  he  again  bitterly  accused  the 
queen  of  treason, — as  murder  of  all  kinds  was 
then  called. 

"  This  is  a  serious  affair,"  said  the  king,  gravely. 
"  I,  as  a  rightful  judge,  cannot  take  the  matter 
into  my  own  hands,  or  I  would  do  battle  in  this 
cause  myself,  for  I  know  well  that  my  wife  is 


128   THX  LOVE  OF  LANCELOT  AND  QU1N1VXK. 

wrongly  accused.  To  burn  a  queen  on  a  hasty 
accusation  of  crime  is  no  light  matter,  though  you 
may  deem  it  so,  Sir  Mador ;  and  if  you  demand 
the  combat,  fear  not  but  a  knight  will  be  found  to 
meet  you  in  the  lists." 

"My  gracious  lord,"  said  Mador,  "you  must 
hold  me  excused,  for  though  you  are  our  king,  you 
are  a  knight  also,  and  held  by  knightly  rules. 
Therefore,  be  not  displeased  with  me,  for  all  the 
knights  here  suspect  the  queen  of  this  crime. 
What  say  you,  my  lords  ?" 

"  The  dinner  was  made  by  the  queen,"  they  an 
swered.  "  She  or  her  servants  must  be  held  guilty 
of  the  crime." 

"  I  gave  this  dinner  with  a  good  will,  and  with 
no  thought  of  evil,"  said  the  queen,  sadly.  "  May 
God  help  me  as  an  innocent  woman,  and  visit  this 
murder  on  the  base  head  of  him  who  committed 
it.  My  king  and  husband,  to  God  I  appeal  for 
right  and  justice." 

"  And  justice  I  demand,"  said  Mador,  "  and  re- 
quire the  king  to  name  a  day  in  which  this  wrong 
can  be  righted." 

"  Be  it  so,  then,"  said  the  king.  "  Fifteen  days 
hence  be  thou  ready  armed  on  horseback  in  the 
meadow  beside  Winchester.  If  there  be  a  knight 
there  to  meet  you,  then  God  speed  the  right.  If 
none  meet  you,  then  my  queen  must  suffer  the 
penalty  of  the  law." 

When  Arthur  and  the  queen  had  departed,  he 
asked  her  how  this  case  befell. 


THE   POISONING  OF   SIB   PATRI8E.  129 

"  God  help  me  if  I  know,"  she  answered. 

"  Where  is  Lancelot  ?"  asked  the  king.  « If  he 
were  here,  he  would  do  battle  for  you." 

"  I  know  not,"  she  replied.  "  His  kinsmen  say 
he  has  left,  the  land." 

"  How  cometh  it,"  said  the  king,  "  that  you  can- 
not  keep  Lancelot  by  your  side  ?  If  he  were  here 
your  case  would  be  won.  Sir  Bors  will  do  battle 
in  his  place,  I  am  sure.  Go  seek  him  and  demand 
his  aid." 

This  the  queen  did,  begging  Bors  to  act  as  her 
champion ;  but  he,  as  one  of  the  knights  who  had 
been  at  the  dinner,  demurred,  and  accused  her  of 
having  driven  Lancelot  from  the  country  by  her 
scorn  and  jealousy. 

Then  she  knelt  and  begged  his  aid,  and  the 
king,  coming  in,  also  requested  his  assistance,  for 
he  was  now  sure  the  queen  had  been  unjustly 
defamed. 

"  My  lord,"  answered  Bors,  "  it  is  a  great  thing 
you  require  of  me,  for  if  I  grant  your  request  I 
will  affront  many  of  my  Eound  Table  comrades. 
Yet  for  your  and  Lancelot's  sake  I  will  be  the 
queen's  champion  on  the  day  appointed,  unless  it 
may  happen  that  a  better  knight  than  I  come  to 
do  battle  for  her." 

"Will  you  promise  me  this,  on  your  faith?" 
asked  the  king. 

"  I  shall  not  fail  you,"  said  Bors.     "  If  a  better 
knight  than  I  come,  the  battle  shall  be  his.     If 
not,  I  will  do  what  I  can  " 
VOL.  III.— i 


130      THK   LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   AND   GUENEVER. 

This  promise  gladdened  the  king  and  queen, 
who  thanked  Bora  heartily,  and  were  filled  with 
hope,  for  they  trusted  greatly  in  this  good  knight's 
prowess  and  skill. 

Bors,  however,  had  other  thoughts  than  they 
dreamed  of,  and  left  the  court  secretly,  riding  to 
the  hermitage  of  Brasias,  where  he  found  Lan- 
celot and  told  him  of  what  had  occurred. 

"This  happens  well,"  said  Lancelot.  "The 
queen  shall  not  suffer.  Do  you  make  ready  f»r 
the  battle,  but  tarry  and  delay,  if  I  am  not  there, 
as  much  as  you  may,  till  I  arrive.  Mador  is  a 
hot  knight,  and  will  be  hasty  to  battle.  Bid  him 
cool  his  haste." 

"Leave  that  to  me,"  said  Bors.  "Doubt  not 
that  it  will  go  as  you  wish." 

Meanwhile  the  news  spread  throughout  the 
court  that  Bors  had  taken  on  himself  the  queen's 
championship.  This  displeased  the  most  of  the 
knights,  for  suspicion  of  the  queen  was  general. 
On  his  return  many  of  his  fellows  accused  him 
hotly  of  taking  on  himself  a  wrongful  quarrel. 

"  Shall  we  see  the  queen  of  our  great  lord  King 
Arthur  brought  to  shame  ?"  he  demanded.  "  To 
whom  in  the  world  do  we  owe  more  ?" 

"We  love  and  honor  our  king  as  much  as 
you  do,"  they  answered.  "But  we  cannot  love 
a  destroyer  of  knights,  as  Queen  Guenever  has 
proved  herself." 

"  Fair  sirs,"  said  Bors,  "  you  speak  hastily,  me- 
thinks.  At  all  times,  so  far  as  I  know,  she  has 


THE    POISONING   OF   SIB   PAXfUSK.  131 

been  a  maintainer,  not  a  destroyer,  of  knights, 
and  has  been  free  with  gifts  and  open-handed  in 
bounty  to  all  of  knightly  fame.  This  you  cannot 
gainsay,  nor  will  I  suffer  the  wife  of  our  noble 
king  to  be  shamefully  slain.  She  is  not  guilty 
of  Sir  Patrise's  death,  for  she  never  bore  him  ill 
will,  nor  any  other  at  that  dinner.  It  was  for 
good  will  she  invited  us  there,  and  I  doubt  not 
her  innocence  will  be  proved ;  for  howsoever  the 
game  goeth,  take  my  word  for  it,  some  other  than 
she  is  guilty  of  that  murder." 

This  some  began  to  believe,  convinced  by  his 
words,  but  others  still  held  their  displeasure,  be- 
lieving the  queen  guilty. 

When  at  length  the  day  that  had  been  fixed  fox 
the  battle  came,  there  was  a  great  gathering  of 
knights  and  people  in  the  meadow  beside  Win- 
chester, where  the  combat  was  to  take  place. 
But  many  shuddered  when  they  saw  another 
thing,  for  an  iron  stake  was  erected,  and  fagots 
heaped  round  it,  for  the  burning  of  the  queen 
should  Mador  win  the  fight. 

Such,  indeed,  was  the  custom  of  those  days. 
Neither  for  favor,  for  love,  nor  for  kindred  could 
any  but  righteous  judgment  be  given,  as  wel1  upon 
a  king  as  upon  a  knight,  upon  a  queen  as  upon  a 
poor  lady,  and  death  at  the  stake  was  the  penalty 
for  those  convicted  of  murder. 

Now  there  rode  into  the  lists  Sir  Mador  de  la 
Porte,  and  took  oath  before  the  king  that  he  held 
the  queen  to  be  guilty  of  tho  death  of  Sir  Patrise, 


132      THE   LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   AND   QUENEVEB. 

and  would  prove  it  with  his  body  against  any  one 
who  should  say  to  the  contrary. 

Sir  Bora  followed,  and  made  oath  as  the  queen's 
champion  that  he  held  her  guiltless,  and  would 
prove  it  with  his  body,  unless  a  better  knight 
came  to  take  the  battle  on  him. 

"  Make  ready  then,"  said  Mador,  "  and  we  shall 
prove  which  is  in  the  right,  you  or  I." 

"  You  are  a  good  knight,  Sir  Mador,"  said  Bors, 
"  but  I  trust  that  God  will  give  this  battle  to 
justice,  not  to  prowess." 

He  continued  to  talk  and  to  make  delay  till 
Mador  called  out  impatiently, — 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  we  waste  time  and  weather. 
Either  come  and  do  battle  at  once,  or  else  say  nay." 

"  I  am  not  much  given  to  say  nay,"  answered 
Bors.  "Take  your  horse  and  make  ready.  I 
shall  not  tarry  long,  I  promise  you." 

Then  each  departed  to  his  tent,  and  in  a  little 
while  Mador  came  into  the  field  with  his  shield 
on  his  shoulder  and  his  spear  in  his  hand.  But 
he  waited  in  vain  for  Bors. 

"  Where  is  your  champion  ?"  cried  Mador  to  the 
king.  "  Bid  him  come  forth  if  he  dare  1" 

When  this  was  told  to  Bors  ho  was  ashamed  to 
delay  longer,  and  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  to 
his  appointed  place.  But  as  he  did  so  he  saw  a 
knight,  mounted  on  a  white  horse,  and  bearing  a 
shield  of  strange  device,  emerge  from  a  neighbor 
ing  wood,  and  come  up  at  all  speed.  Ho  con 
tinued  hia  course  till  be  came  to  Sir  Bors. 


THE   POISONING   OF   SIB  PATBfBI.  133 

"  Be  not  displeased,  fair  knight,"  he  said,  "  if  I 
claim  this  battle.  I  have  ridden  far  this  day  to 
have  it,  as  I  promised  you  when  we  spoke  last. 
And  for  what  you  have  done  I  thank  you." 

Then  Bors  rode  to  the  king  and  told  him  that  a 
knight  had  come  who  would  do  battle  for  the 
queen  and  relieve  him  from  the  championship. 

"  What  knight  is  this?"  asked  the  king. 

"  All  I  may  say  is  that  he  covenanted  to  be  here 
to-day.  He  has  kept  his  word,  and  I  am  dis- 
charged. 

"  How  is  this  ?"  demanded  Arthur.  "  Sir  knight, 
do  you  truly  desire  to  do  battle  for  the  queen  ?" 

"  For  that,  and  that  alone,  came  I  hither,"  an 
swered  the  knight.  "  And  I  beg  that  there  be  no 
delay,  for  when  this  battle  is  ended  I  must  depart 
in  haste  on  other  duties.  I  hold  it  a  dishonor  to 
all  those  knights  of  the  Round  Table  that  they 
can  stand  and  see  so  noble  a  lady  and  courteous  a 
queen  as  Queen  Guenever  rebuked  and  shamed 
among  them  all.  Therefore  I  stand  as  her  cham- 
pion." 

Then  all  marvelled  what  knight  this  could  be, 
for  none  suspected  him.  But  Mador  cried  impa- 
tiently to  the  king, — 

"We  lose  time  here.  If  this  knight,  whoever 
he  be,  will  have  ado  with  me,  it  is  time  to  end 
words  and  begin  deeds." 

"  You  are  hot,  Sir  Mador.  Take  care  that  youi 
valor  be  not  cooled,"  said  the  other. 

They  now  moved  to  their  appointed  station, 
12 


134      THE   LOVE   OP  LANCELOT   AND   OTTENEVEB. 

and  there  couched  their  spears  and  rode  together 
with  all  the  speed  of  their  chargers.  Mador's 
spear  broke,  but  the  spear  of  his  opponent  held, 
and  bore  him  and  his  horse  backward  to  the 
earth. 

But  he  sprang  lightly  from  the  saddle,  and 
drew  his  sword,  challenging  the  victor  to  do  battle 
with  him  on  foot.  This  the  other  knight  did, 
springing  quickly  to  the  ground,  and  drawing  his 
sword.  Then  they  came  eagerly  to  the  combat, 
and  for  the  space  of  near  an  hour  fought  with 
the  fury  of  wild  beasts,  for  Mador  was  a  strong 
knight,  proved  in  many  battles. 

But  at  last  the  strange  champion  struck  his 
opponent  a  blow  that  brought  him  to  the  earth. 
He  stepped  near  him  to  hurl  him  flat,  but  at  that 
instant  Mador  suddenly  rose.  As  he  did  so  he 
struck  upward  with  his  sword,  and  ran  the  other 
through  the  thick  of  the  thigh,  so  that  the  blood 
flowed  freely. 

When  he  felt  himself  wounded  ho  stepped  back 
in  a  rage,  and  grasping  his  sword  struck  Mador 
a  two-handed  blow  that  hurled  him  flat  to  the 
earth.  Then  he  sprang  upon  him  to  pull  off  his 
helm. 

"I  yield  me!"  cried  Mador.  "Spare  my  life, 
and  I  release  the  queen." 

"I  shall  not  grant  your  life,"  said  the  other, 
"  only  on  condition  that  you  freely  withdraw  this 
accusation  from  the  queen,  and  that  no  charge 
against  her  be  made  on  Sir  Patrise's  tomb." 


THK   POISONING   OF   SIR  PATRI8B.  135 

"  All  this  shall  be  done.  I  have  lost,  and  ad. 
judge  her  innocent." 

The  knights-parters  of  the  lists  now  took  up 
Sir  Mador  and  bore  him  to  his  tent.  The  other 
knight  went  to  the  foot  of  King  Arthur's  seat 
By  that  time  the  queen  had  come  thither  also, 
and  was  heartily  kissed  by  her  overjoyed  lord 
Then  king  and  queen  alike  thanked  the  victor 
knight,  and  prayed  him  to  take  off  his  helmet, 
and  drink  some  wine  for  refreshment.  This  he 
did,  and  on  the  instant  a  loud  shout  went  up  from 
all  present,  for  they  recognized  the  noble  face  of 
Lancelot  du  Lake. 

"  Sir  Lancelot !"  cried  the  king.  "  Never  were 
you  more  heartily  welcome.  Deep  thanks  I  and 
Queen  Guenever  owe  you  for  your  noble  labor 
this  day  in  our  behalf." 

"My  lord  Arthur,"  said  Lancelot,  "I  would 
shame  myself  should  I  ever  fail  to  do  battle  for 
you  both.  It  was  you  who  gave  me  the  high  honor 
of  knighthood.  And  on  the  day  you  made  me 
knight  I  lost  my  sword  through  haste,  and  the 
lady  your  queen  found  it  and  gave  it  me  when  I 
had  need  of  it,  and  so  saved  mo  from  disgrace 
among  the  knights.  On  that  day  I  promised  her 
to  be  ever  her  knight  in  right  or  wrong." 

"  Your  goodness  merits  reward,"  said  the  king, 
"  and  therein  I  shall  not  fail  you." 

But  as  the  queen  gazed  on  Lancelot,  tears  came 
to  her  eyes,  and  she  wept  so  tenderly  that  she 
almost  sank  to  the  ground  from  sorrow  and 


136   TH»  LOYX  OF  LANCELOT  AND  GUENEVIB. 

remorse  at  her  unkindness  to  him  who  had  done 
her  such  noble  service. 

Now  the  knights  of  his  blood  came  around 
Lancelot  in  the  greatest  joy,  and  all  the  Knights 
of  the  Eound  Table  after  them,  glad  to  welcome 
him. 

And  in  the  days  that  followed  Lancelot  was 
cured  of  his  wound,  and  Mador  put  under  the 
care  of  skilful  leeches,  while  great  joy  and  glad- 
ness reigned  in  the  court  for  the  happy  issue  of 
that  combat  which  had  promised  so  fatal  an 
ending. 

About  this  time  it  befel  that  Nimue,  the  damsel 
of  the  lake,  came  to  the  court,  she  who  knew  so 
many  things  by  her  power  of  enchantment,  and 
had  such  great  love  for  Arthur  and  his  knights. 
When  tho  story  of  the  death  of  Sir  Patrise  and 
the  peril  of  the  queen  was  told  her,  she  answered 
openly  that  the  queen  had  been  falsely  accused, 
and  that  the  real  murderer  was  Sir  Pinel,  who 
had  poisoned  the  apples  to  destroy  Gawaine,  in 
revenge  for  the  murder  of  Lamorak.  This  story 
was  confirmed  when  Pinel  fled  hastily  from  the 
court,  for  then  all  saw  clearly  that  Guenever  was 
innocent  of  the  crime. 

The  slain  knight  was  buried  in  the  church  of 
Westminster,  and  on  his  tomb  was  written, — 

"  Here  lieth  Sir  Patrise  of  Ireland,  slain  by  Sir 
Pinel  le  Savage,  through  poisoned  apples  intended 
for  Sir  Gawaine."  And  to  this  was  added  the 
story  of  how  Guenever  the  queen  had  been 


THX   LILT   MAID   OF   ABTOLAT.  137 

charged  with  that  crime,  and  had  been  cleared  in 
the  combat  by  Sir  Lancelot  du  Lake,  her  cham- 
pion. 

All  this  was  written  on  the  tomb,  to  clear  the 
queen's  good  fame.  A.nd  daily  and  long  Sir  Mador 
sued  the  queen  to  have  her  good  grace  again. 
At  length,  by  means  of  Lancelot,  he  was  forgiven, 
and  entered  again  into  the  grace  of  king  and 
queen.  Thus  once  more  peace  and  good -will  were 
restored  to  Camelot. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THB   LILT   MAID   OF  ASTOLAT. 

IT  came  to  pass  that,  within  fifteen  days  of  the 
Feast  of  the  Assumption,  King  Arthur  announced 
that  a  great  tournament  would  be  held  on  that 
day  at  Camelot,  where  he  and  the  king  of  Scots 
would  hold  the  lists  against  all  who  should  come. 
This  tidings  went  far,  and  there  came  to  Camelot 
many  noble  knights,  among  them  the  king  of 
North  Wales,  King  Anguish  of  Ireland,  the  king 
with  the  hundred  knights,  Sir  Galahalt  the  high 
prince,  and  other  kings,  dukes,  and  earls. 

But  when  Arthur  was  ready  to  ride  from  Lon- 
don, whore  he  then  was,  to  Camelot,  the  queen 
begged  to  be  excused  from  going  with  him,  saying 
that  she  was  not  well.  Lancelot,  too,  would  not 
12* 


138      THJ   LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   AND   GUENEVKB. 

go,  on  the  plea  that  he  was  not  well  of  the  wound 
which  Sir  Mador  had  given  him.  So  the  king  set 
out  in  grief  and  anger,  for  the  absence  of  his  wife 
and  Lancelot  tried  him  sorely.  On  his  way  to 
Camelot  he  lodged  in  a  town  named  Astolat,  which 
is  now  known  as  Gilford,  and  here  he  remained 
for  several  days. 

But  hardly  had  he  departed  before  the  queen 
sought  Lancelot,  and  blamed  him  severely  for  not 
going  with  the  king,  saying  that  he  thus  exposed 
her  to  slander. 

"  Madam,  your  wisdom  comes  somewhat  late. 
Why  gave  you  not  this  advice  sooner?"  said 
Lancelot.  "  I  will  go,  since  you  command  it ;  but 
I  warn  you  that  at  the  jousts  I  will  fight  against 
the  king  and  his  party." 

"Fight  as  you  will,  but  go,"  said  Gruenever. 
"  If  you  take  my  counsel,  however,  you  will  keep 
with  your  king  and  your  kindred." 

"  Bo  not  displeased  with  me,  madam,"  said 
Lancelot.  "  I  will  do  as  God  wills,  and  that,  1 
fear,  will  be  to  fight  against  the  king's  party." 

So  the  knight  took  horse  and  rode  to  Astolat, 
and  here  in  the  evening  he  obtained  quarters  in 
the  mansion  of  an  old  baron,  named  Sir  Bernard 
of  Astolat.  It  happened  that  this  mansion  was 
near  the  quarters  of  the  king,  who,  as  in  the  dusk 
he  walked  in  the  castle  garden,  saw  Lancelot 
draM  near  to  Sir  Bernard's  door,  and  recognized 
him. 

<'  Aha !"  said  the  king,  "  is  that  the  game  ?    That 


THE   LILT   MAID   OF  A8TO1.AT.  139 

gives  me  comfort.  I  shall  have  one  knight  in  the 
lists  who  will  do  his  duty  nobly." 

"  Who  is  that  ?"  asked  those  with  him 

"Ask  me  not  now,"  said  the  king,  smiling. 
"  You  may  learn  later." 

Meanwhile  Lancelot  was  hospitably  received  by 
the  old  baron,  though  the  latter  knew  not  his 
guest. 

"  Dear  sir,"  said  Lancelot  to  his  host,  "  I  thank 
you  for  your  kindness,  and  I  shall  owe  you  deeper 
thanks  if  you  will  lend  me  a  shield.  Mine  is  too 
well  known,  and  I  wish  to  fight  in  disguise." 

"  That  shall  I  willingly,"  answered  his  host. 
"  I  have  two  sons  who  were  lately  knighted,  and 
the  elder,  Sir  Tirre,  has  been  hurt.  His  shield  you 
shall  have,  for  it  is  yet  unknown  in  list  or  field. 
As  for  my  younger  son,  Sir  Lavaine,  he  is  a  strong 
and  likely  youth,  whom  I  beg  you  will  take  with 
you.  I  feel  that  you  must  be  a  champion  of  re- 
nown, and  hope  you  will  tell  me  your  name." 

"  Not  at  present,  if  you  will  excuse  me,"  said 
Lancelot.  "  If  I  speed  well  at  the  tournament  I 
will  return  and  tell  you.  But  I  shall  be  glad  to 
have  Sir  Lavaine  with  me,  and  to  use  his  brother's 
shield." 

"  You  are  welcome  to  both,"  said  Sir  Bernard. 

This  old  baron  had  a  daughter  of  great  beauty, 
and  in  the  freshness  of  youth,  who  was  known  in 
that  region  as  the  Fair  Maid  of  Astolat,  by  name 
Elaine  le  Blank.  And  when  she  saw  Lancelot  her 
whole  heart  went  out  to  him  in  love, — a  love  of 


140   THE  LOVE  OF  LANCELOT  AND  QUENKVX&. 

that  ardent  nature  that  never  dies  while  she  who 
wears  it  lives. 

Lancelot,  too,  was  strongly  attracted  by  her 
fresh  young  face,  of  lily-like  charm ;  but  he  had 
no  love  to  give.  Yet  he  spoke  in  tender  kindness 
to  the  maiden,  and  so  emboldened  her  that  she 
begged  him  to  wear  her  token  at  the  tournament. 

"  You  ask  more  than  I  have  ever  yet  granted 
to  lady  or  damsel,"  said  Lancelot.  "  If  I  yield  to 
your  wish  I  shall  do  more  for  your  love  than  any 
woman  born  can  claim." 

She  besought  him  now  with  still  more  earnest- 
ness, and  it  came  to  his  mind  that  if  he  wished  to 
go  to  the  lists  disguised  he  could  take  no  better 
method,  for  no  one  would  recognise  Lancelot 
under  a  damsel's  token. 

"  Show  me  what  you  would  have  me  wear,  fail 
maiden,"  he  said. 

"  It  is  a  red  sleeve  of  mine,"  she  answered,  "  a 
sleeve  of  scarlet,  embroidered  with  great  pearls," 
and  she  brought  it  to  him. 

"  I  have  never  done  this  for  damsel  before,"  said 
Lancelot.  "  In  return  I  will  leave  my  shield  in  your 
keeping.  Pray  keep  it  safe  till  we  meet  again." 

Then  the  evening  was  spent  in  merry  cheer ; 
but  that  night  Elaine  slept  but  lightly,  for  her 
slumber  was  full  of  dreams  of  Lancelot,  and  her 
heart  burned  with  fears  that  he  might  come  to 
harm  in  the  lists. 

On  the  next  day  King  Arthur  and  his  knights 
set  out  for  Camelot.  Soon  afterwards  Lancelot  and 


LANCELOT  LEAVES  ASTOLAT. 


THB   LILY   MAID   OP   A8TOLAT.  141 

Lavaine  took  leave  of  Sir  Bernard  and  his  fair 
daughter,  while  the  eyes  of  Elaine  followed  the 
noble  form  of  Lancelot  fondly  and  far,  as  he  rode. 
Both  the  knights  had  white  shields,  and  Lancelot 
bore  with  him  Blame's  red  embroidered  sleeve. 
When  they  reached  Camelot  they  took  lodging 
privately  with  a  rich  burgess  of  the  town,  that 
none  might  know  them. 

When  came  Assumption  Day,  the  lists  were  set, 
the  trumpets  blew  to  the  field,  the  two  parties  of 
knights  gathered  promptly  to  the  fray,  and  fierce 
was  the  encounter  between  them.  In  the  end, 
after  hard  fighting,  the  party  of  Arthur  bore  back 
their  opponents,  who  wero  headed  by  the  kings 
of  Northumberland  and  North  Wales. 

All  this  was  seen  by  Lancelot  and  Lavaine,  who 
sat  their  horses  at  a  distance  looking  on. 

"  Come,"  said  Lancelot,  "  let  us  help  these  good 
fellows,  who  seem  to  be  overpowered." 

"  Lead  on,"  said  Lavaine.  "  I  shall  follow  and 
do  my  best." 

Then  Lancelot,  with  the  red  sleeve  fastened 
upon  his  helmet,  rode  in  to  the  thickest  of  the  press, 
and  smote  down  such  numbers  of  knights  with 
spear  and  sword  that  the  party  of  the  Round 
Table  were  forced  i>  give  back,  and  their  oppo- 
uents  came  on  with  fresh  heart.  And  close  upon 
Lancelot's  track  Lavaine  smote  down  several  good 
knights. 

"Who  can  this  wonderful  fighter  be?"  aeked 
Gawaino  of  the  king. 


142      THE   LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   AND   GUENEVER. 

"  I  know  him  well,"  said  Arthur,  "  but  will  not 
name  him  since  he  is  in  disguise." 

"  I  could  believe  it  was  Lancelot,"  said  Gawaine, 
"  but  for  that  red  sleeve.  No  man  ever  saw  Lan- 
celot wear  a  woman's  token." 

"  Let  him  be,"  said  Arthur.  "  He  will  be  better 
known  before  he  is  done." 

Then  nine  knights  of  Lancelot's  kindred,  angry 
at  seeing  this  one  champion  beat  down  all  before 
him,  joined  together  and  pressed  hotly  into  the 
din,  smiting  down  all  that  opposed  them.  Three 
of  them — Bors,  Hector,  and  Lionel — spurred  to- 
gether on  Lancelot,  all  striking  him  at  once  with 
their  spears.  So  great  was  their  force  that  Lance- 
lot's horse  was  hurled  to  the  ground,  and  his 
shield  pierced  by  Bors,  whose  spear  wounded  him 
in  the  side,  breaking  and  leaving  its  head  deep  in 
the  flesh. 

Seeing  this  misfortune,  Lavaine  spurred  fiercely 
on  the  king  of  the  Scots,  thrust  him  from  his 
horse,  and,  in  despite  of  them  all,  brought  that 
horse  to  Lancelot,  and  helped  him  to  mount. 
Then,  though  so  sorely  hurt,  Lancelot  drew  his 
sword,  and,  aided  by  Lavaine,  did  such  deeds  of 
arms  as  he  had  never  surpassed  in  his  hours  of 
greatest  strength.  As  the  chronicles  say,  that  day 
he  unhorsed  more  than  thirty  knights  ;  and  La- 
vaine followed  his  example  well,  for  he  smote 
down  ten  Knights  of  the  Eound  Table  in  this  his 
first  tournament.  So  does  a  noble  example  stir 
young  hearts. 


THX   LILT   MAID   OF   ASTOLAT.  143 

"  I  would  give  much  to  know  who  this  valiant 
knight  can  be,"  said  Gawaine. 

"  He  will  be  known  before  he  departs,"  answered 
Arthur.  «  Trust  me  for  that." 

Then  the  king  blew  to  lodging,  and  the  prize 
was  given  by  the  heralds  to  the  knight  with  the 
white  shield  who  bore  the  red  sleeve.  Around 
Lancelot  gathered  the  leaders  on  his  side,  and 
thanked  him  warmly  for  gaining  them  the  vic- 
tory. 

"  If  I  have  deserved  thanks  I  have  sorely  paid 
for  them,"  said  Lancelot,  "  for  I  doubt  if  I  escape 
with  my  life.  Dear  sirs,  permit  me  to  depart,  for 
just  now  I  would  rather  have  repose  than  be  lord 
of  all  the  world." 

Then  he  broke  from  them  and  galloped  away, 
though  his  wound  forced  piteous  groans  from  his 
steadfast  heart.  Wben  out  of  sight  of  them  all 
he  checked  his  horse,  and  begged  Lavaine  to  help 
him  dismount  and  to  draw  the  spear-head  from 
his  side. 

"  My  lord,"  said  Lavaine,  "  I  would  fain  help 
you ;  yet  I  fear  that  to  draw  the  spear  will  be 
your  death." 

"  It  will  be  my  death  if  it  remains,"  said  Lance- 
lot. "  I  charge  you  to  draw  it." 

This  Lavaine  did,  the  pain  being  so  deadly  that 
Lancelot  shrieked  and  fell  into  a  death-like  swoon, 
while  a  full  pint  of  blood  gushed  from  the  wound. 
Lavaine  stopped  tho  bleeding  as  well  as  he  could, 
and  with  great  trouble  got  the  wounded  knight  to 


144      THE   LOVE   OF  LANCELOT   AND   GTTENEVER. 

a  neighboring  hermitage,  that  stood  in  front  of  a 
great  cliff,  with  a  clear  stream  running  by  its  foot. 

Here  Lavaine  beat  on  the  door  with  the  butt  of 
his  spear,  and  cried  loudly, — 

"  Open,  for  Jesus'  sake !  Open,  for  a  noble 
knight  lies  bleeding  to  death  at  your  gate  I" 

This  loud  appeal  quickly  brought  out  the  her- 
mit, who  was  named  Baldwin  of  Brittany,  and 
had  once  been  a  Round  Table  knight.  He  gazed 
with  pity  and  alarm  on  the  pale  face  and  bleeding 
form  before  him. 

"  I  should  know  this  knight,"  he  said.  "  Who 
is  he?" 

"Fair  sir,"  said  Lancelot,  feebly,  "I  am  & 
stranger  and  a  knight-errant,  who  have  sought 
renown  through  many  realms,  and  have  come 
here  to  my  deadly  peril." 

As  he  spoke  the  hermit  recognized  him,  by  a 
wound  on  his  pallid  cheek. 

"  Ah,  my  lord  Lancelot,"  he  said,  "you  cannot 
deceive  me  thus." 

"  Then,  if  you  know  me,  help  me  for  heaven's 
sake.  Relieve  me  from  this  pain,  whether  it  be 
by  life  or  death." 

"  I  shall  do  my  best,"  said  the  hermit.  "  Fear 
not  that  you  will  die." 

Then  he  had  him  borne  into  the  hermitage,  and 
laid  in  bed,  his  armor  being  removed.  This  done, 
the  hermit  stanched  the  bleeding,  anointed  the 
wound  with  healing  ointments,  and  gave  Lancelot 
a  refreshing  and  healing  draught. 


THE   LILT   MAID   OF   A8TOLAT.  146 

Meanwhile  King  Arthur  invited  the  knights  of 
both  parties  to  a  great  evening  feast,  and  there 
asked  the  king  of  North  Wales  to  bring  forward 
the  knight  of  the  red  sleeve,  that  he  might  receive 
the  prize  he  had  won. 

"  That  I  cannot  do,"  was  the  answer.  "  He  was 
badly,  if  not  fatally,  wounded,  and  left  us  so  has- 
tily that  we  know  not  whither  he  went." 

"  That  is  the  worst  news  I  have  heard  these 
seven  years,"  said  Arthur.  "  I  would  rather  lose 
my  throne  than  have  that  noble  knight  slain." 

"  Do  you  know  him  ?"  they  all  asked. 

"  I  have  a  shrewd  suspicion  who  he  is  ;  and  1 
pray  God  for  good  tidings  of  him." 

"  By  my  head,"  said  Gawaine,  "  I  should  be  sorry 
enough  to  see  harm  come  to  one  that  can  handle 
spear  and  sword  like  him.  He  cannot  be  far  away, 
and  if  he  is  to  be  found  I  shall  find  him." 

"  Fortune  aid  you  in  the  quest,"  said  the  king. 

Then  Gawaine  took  a  squire,  and  they  rode  in 
all  directions  for  six  or  seven  miles  around  Game- 
lot,  but  could  learn  nothing  of  the  missing  knight. 
Two  days  afterwards  Arthur  and  his  fellowship 
set  out  on  their  return  to  London.  On  their  way 
they  passed  through  Astolat,  and  here  it  happened 
that  Gawaine  lodged  with  Sir  Bernard,  Lancelot's 
former  host. 

He  was  well  received,  and  the  old  baron  and  his 
fair  daughter  begged  him  earnestly  for  tidings  of 
the  tournament,  being  specially  eager  to  know  who 
had  done  best  there. 

VOL.  III.— o       *        IS 


146   THE  LOVE  OF  LANCELOT  AND  QUENEVSR. 

"  Two  knights  bore  all  before  them,"  said  Ga- 
waine.  "  Both  carried  white  shields,  and  one 
wore  on  his  helmet  a  red  sleeve,  as  some  fair 
lady's  token.  Never  saw  I  a  man  before  do 
such  mighty  deeds,  and  his  fellow  seconded  him 
nobly." 

"  Blessed  be  God  that  that  knight  did  so  well," 
broke  out  Elaine,  "  for  he  is  the  first  man  I  ever 
loved,  and  shall  be  the  last." 

"  You  know  him  then  ?"  said  Gawaine.  "  Pray 
tell  me  his  name." 

"  That  I  know  not,  nor  whence  he  came ;  but 
this  I  truly  know,  that  I  love  him,  and  that  the 
token  he  wore  was  mine.  This,  and  this  only,  I 
can  justly  affirm." 

"  This  is  a  strange  story,"  said  Gawaine.  "  What 
knowledge  have  you  of  him  ?  and  how  came  you 
to  know  him  ?" 

In  response,  she  told  him  how  the  knight  had 
left  his  shield  with  her,  and  taken  that  of  her 
brother,  with  what  else  she  knew. 

"  I  would  thank  you  much  for  a  sight  of  that 
shield,"  said  Grawaine. 

"  I  have  it  in  my  chamber,  covered  with  a  case, 
and  will  send  for  it,"  said  Elaine. 

When  the  shield  was  brought  Gawaine  removed 
the  case,  and  at  sight  he  knew  it  to  be  Lancelot's 
shield. 

"  Ah,  mercy  I"  said  Grawaine,  "  the  sight  of  this 
makes  my  heart  heavy." 

"  Why  so  ?"  she  demanded. 


THE   LILT   MAID   OF   ASTOLAT.  147 

"  For  good  cause,"  he  answered.  "  Is  the  owner 
of  this  shield  your  love  f' 

"  Truly  so,"  she  replied.  "  I  love  him  dearly ; 
would  to  God  ho  loved  me  as  dearly." 

"  Then  must  I  say  that  you  have  given  your 
love  to  the  noblest  and  most  renowned  knight  in 
the  world." 

"  So  it  seemed  to  me ;  for  he  carries  a  noble  soul 
in  his  face." 

"  This  I  may  say,"  said  Gawaine.  "  I  have 
known  this  knight  for  more  than  twenty  years, 
and  never  knew  him  before  to  wear  a  woman's 
token  at  joust  or  tournament.  You  owe  him 
thanks,  indeed,  that  he  wore  yours.  Yet  I  dread 
greatly  that  you  will  never  see  him  again,  and  it 
ifl  for  this  that  my  heart  is  heavy." 

"  Why  say  you  so  ?"  she  cried,  starting  up  with 
pallid  face.  "  Is  he  hurt  ?  Is  he  slain  ?" 

"  Not  slain ;  but  sadly  hurt.  This  more  it  is 
my  duty  to  tell  you:  he  is  the  noble  knight,  Sir 
Lancelot  du  Lake.  I  know  him  by  his  shield." 

"Lancelot!  Can  this  be  so?  And  his  hurt — 
who  gave  it  ?  Is  it  really  perilous  ?" 

"Had  the  knight  who  wounded  him  known 
him,  he  would  have  been  grieved  almost  to  death. 
As  for  Sir  Lancelot,  I  can  tell  you  nothing  more. 
On  receiving  his  hurt  he  left  the  lists  with  his 
comrade,  and  cannot  be  found.  He  is  somewhere 
concealed." 

"Then  shall  I  go  seek  him!"  cried  Elaine. 
"  Give  me  leave  to  do  so,  dear  father,  if  you  would 


148      THX   LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   AND   GUENEVEB. 

not  have  me  lose  my  mind.  I  shall  never  rest  till 
I  find  him  and  my  brother,  and  nurse  him  back 
to  health." 

"Go,  daughter,  if  you  will,"  said  her  father, 
'  for  I  am  sick  at  heart  to  hear  such  tidings  of 
that  noble  knight." 

In  the  morning  Gawaine  rejoined  King  Arthur, 
and  told  him  of  what  he  had  learned. 

"I  knew  already  it  was  Lancelot,"  said  the 
king ;  "  but  never  before  knew  I  him  to  wear 
woman's  token." 

"  By  my  faith,  this  lily  maiden  of  Astolat  loves 
him  deeply,"  said  Gawaine.  "What  it  means  I 
cannot  say,  but  she  has  set  out  to  seek  him,  and 
will  break  her  heart  if  she  fail  to  find  him." 

And  so  they  rode  on  to  London,  where  Gawaine 
made  known  to  the  court  that  it  was  Lancelot 
who  wore  the  red  sleeve  and  won  the  prize  at  the 
tournament. 

This  tidings  made  no  small  trouble  in  the  court. 
Bors  and  his  kinsmen  were  heavy  at  heart  when 
they  learned  that  it  was  Lancelot  whom  they  had 
so  hotly  assailed.  And  Queen  Guenever  was  be- 
side herself  with  anger  on  learning  that  it  was 
Lancelot  who  had  worn  the  red  sleeve  at  the 
tournament. 

Meanwhile  Elaine  journeyed  to  Camelot  in 
search  of  the  wounded  knight,  and  as  she  sought 
far  and  near  about  the  town,  sick  at  heart,  it 
chanced  that  she  espied  her  brother  Lavaine,  as 
he  rode  out  to  give  his  horse  air.  She  called 


THE   LILT   MAID   OF   A8TOLAT.  149 

loudly  to    him,  and   when   he    came  up    asked 
him, — 

"  How  does  my  lord,  Sir  Lancelot  ?" 

"  Who  told  you,  sister,  that  my  lord's  name  was 
Lancelot  ?" 

She  told  him  how  she  had  learned  this,  and  they 
rode  together  to  the  hermitage,  where  Lavaine 
brought  her  in  to  see  the  wounded  knight. 

But  when  she  saw  him  lying  there  so  sick  and 
pale,  and  with  a  death-like  hue  upon  his  face,  she 
stood  gazing  upon  him  with  dilated  eyes  and 
whitening  face,  and  then  suddenly  fell  to  the  floor 
in  a  deep  swoon. 

"  I  pray  you,  Lavaine,  take  her  up  and  bring 
her  to  me,"  said  Lancelot. 

When  she  was  brought  near  him  he  kissed  her 
pale  face,  and  at  the  touch  of  his  lips  her  cheeks 
flamed  out  with  red,  and  life  came  back  to  her. 

"  Fair  maiden,"  said  Lancelot,  "  it  pains  me  to 
see  you  so  deeply  afflicted.  Comfort  yourself,  1 
pray  you.  If  you  come  here  to  my  aid  you  are 
truly  welcome ;  but  let  not  this  little  hurt  trouble 
you ;  I  shall  soon  be  well  of  it." 

Then  they  fell  into  discourse,  and  Elaine  told 
Lancelot  how  Gawaine  had  seen  and  known  his 
shield.  This  gave  him  no  small  trouble,  for  he 
knew  well  that  the  story  of  the  red  scarf  would 
get  to  Queen  Gruenever's  ears,  and  he  feared  its 
effect  on  her  hasty  and  jealous  temper.  But 
Elaine  never  left  Lancelot,  but  watched  him  day 
and  night,  nursing  him  back  to  health. 
II* 


150      THX  LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   AND   IHJENEVKB. 

CHAPTER  in. 

HOW   ELAINE  DIED   FOB  LOVE. 

WHEN  Sir  Bora  learned  that  his  unlucky  blow 
had  brought  Lancelot  nearly  to  death's  door,  he 
became  sore  indeed  at  heart,  and  hastened  to 
Camelot  in  search  of  his  noble  kinsman.  Here 
he  met  Lavaine,  who  knew  him  and  conducted 
him  to  the  bedside  of  the  wounded  knight. 

When  he  saw  the  pale  and  haggard  counte- 
nance of  Lancelot,  he  fell  into  a  passion  of  tears, 
and  accused  himself  bitterly.  But  Lancelot  con- 
soled him  as  well  as  he  could,  declaring  that  the 
fault  was  his  own,  and  that  he  would  bear  the 
blame.  Then  Bors  told  him  of  the  anger  of  the 
queen,  and  of  his  earnest  but  vain  endeavor  to 
overcome  it. 

"  I  deserve  it  not,"  said  Lancelot.  "  I  wore  the 
sleeve  only  by  way  of  disguise.  As  for  Gawaine, 
he  would  have  shown  more  wisdom  and  friendship 
had  he  been  less  free  of  speech." 

"  I  told  her  all  this,"  said  Bors,  "  but  she  wap 
past  listening  to  reason.  Is  this  maiden,  who  is 
so  busy  about  you,  she  whom  they  call  the  lily 
of  Astolat?" 

"  She  it  is,"  said  Lancelot.  "  I  cannot  by  any 
means  put  her  from  me." 

«  Why  should  you  ?"  asked  Bore.    "  She  is  a 


HOW   ELAINE   DIED   FOR  LOVE.  151 

beautiful  and  tender-hearted  damsel.  Would  to 
God,  fair  cousin,  you  could  love  her,  for  I  see  well, 
by  her  gentle  and  close  care  of  you,  that  she  loves 
you  devotedly." 

"  That  I  am  sorry  for,"  said  Lancelot. 

"  She  will  not  be  the  first  that  has  loved  you  in 
vain,"  said  Bors ;  "  the  more  the  pity." 

Many  other  things  they  talked  of,  and  Lancelot 
found  such  comfort  in  the  presence  of  Sir  Bors 
that  in  a  few  days  he  showed  great  signs  of  im- 
provement. Then  Bors  told  him  of  another  tour- 
nament that  King  Arthur  had  ordered,  to  be  held 
at  Camelot  on  All-hallowmas  day,  between  his 
party  and  that  of  the  king  of  North  Wales. 

This  filled  Lancelot  with  an  earnest  desire  to 
grow  strong,  and  during  the  following  month, 
under  the  kind  care  of  his  cousin,  and  the  gentle 
ministrations  of  Elaine,  he  improved  greatly  in 
health.  For  Elaine  waited  upon  him  with  loving 
diligence  night  and  day,  and  never  was  child  or 
wife  more  gentle  and  heedful  to  father  or  husband 
than  this  fair  maid  of  Astolat  to  the  wounded 
knight. 

At  length  came  a  day  when  Lancelot  felt  so 
much  stronger,  through  the  healing  influence  of 
a  bath  of  herbs  which  the  hermit  had  gathered 
in  the  woods,  that  he  determined  to  try  if  he 
could  wear  his  armor  and  sit  in  his  saddle.  He 
thereupon  armed  and  had  his  horse  brought  out. 
Mounting  the  mettled  charger,  in  the  high  spirit 
of  new  health  he  spurred  it  to  full  speed. 


152   THE  LOV*  OP  LANCELOT  AND  QUBNEVKK. 

But  the  courser's  long  rest  in  the  stable  had 
made  it  fresh  and  fierce,  and  on  feeling  the  spurs  it 
leaped  forward  so  violently  that  Lancelot's  wound 
burst  open  in  the  strain,  and  the  blood  gushed  out 
again. 

"Bore!  Lavaine!  help!"  he  feebly  cried.  "I 
am  come  to  my  end." 

As  he  spoke  he  fell  from  his  horse  to  the  earth, 
and  lay  there  like  a  corpse. 

The  two  knights  hurried  up,  full  of  fearful  con- 
cern, and  when  Elaine,  who  had  heard  the  pitiful 
call,  came  flying  to  the  spot,  she  threw  herself  on 
the  prostrate  form,  weeping  like  one  beside  her- 
self with  grief,  and  kissing  the  insensible  knight 
as  if  she  hoped  thus  to  recall  him  to  life. 

"Traitors  you  are!"  she  cried  wildly  to  her 
brother  and  Sir  Bors.  "Why  did  you  let  him 
leave  his  bed?  I  hold  you  guilty  of  his 
death." 

At  this  moment  the  hermit  Baldwin  appeared. 
When  he  saw  Lancelot  in  that  plight  he  grew 
angry  at  heart,  though  he  checked  the  reproach- 
ful words  that  rose  to  his  lips. 

"  Let  us  have  him  in,"  he  said,  briefly. 

Lancelot  was  thereupon  carried  to  the  hermit- 
age, his  armor  removed,  and  the  bleeding  stanched, 
but  it  was  long  before  he  could  be  brought  out  of 
his  death-like  swoon. 

"  Why  did  you  put  your  life  thus  in  jeopardy  ?" 
asked  the  hermit,  reproachfully,  when  the  knight 
was  again  in  his  senses. 


HOW    KLAINE    DIED    FOB   LOVX.  153 

"  I  was  too  eager  to  attend  the  tournament,  now 
near  at  hand,"  he  said. 

"  Ah,  Sir  Lancelot,  you  have  more  courage  than 
wisdom,  I  fear.  As  for  the  tournament,  let  Sir 
Bors  attend  it  and  do  what  he  may.  By  the  time 
it  is  over  and  he  retimed,  I  hope  that  you  may 
be  well  once  more,  if  you  will  but  be  governed 
by  my  advice." 

This  advice  was  taken  and  Bors  went  to  the 
tournament,  where  he  bore  himself  so  valorously 
that  the  prize  was  divided  between  him  and  Ga- 
waine.  Gareth  and  Palamides  also  did  noble 
deeds,  but  they  departed  suddenly  before  the  prize 
was  declared,  as  if  called  away  by  some  adven- 
ture. 

All  this  Lancelot  heard  with  great  pleasure 
from  Bors  on  his  return,  his  only  regret  being 
that  he  had  not  been  able  to  take  part  in  that 
knightly  sport.  But  the  remedies  of  the  hermit 
and  the  care  of  Elaine  had  meanwhile  done  him 
wonderful  service,  and  he  was  soon  able  again  to 
mount  his  horse  and  wear  his  armor  in  safety. 

A  day,  therefore,  quickly  came  when  the  knight 
felt  himself  in  condition  for  a  journey,  and  when 
he  and  his  companions  took  the  road  to  Astolat, 
escorting  the  fair  Elaine  back  to  her  fathers 
home.  Here  they  were  gladly  received  by  the 
old  baron  Bernard,  and  his  son  Tirre,  who  had  now 
recovered. 

But  when  the  time  approached  which  Lancelot 
had  set  for  his  departure,  Elaine  grew  pale  and 


154      THl   LOVE   OP   LANCELOT  AND   aUENEVMU 

drooping.  At  length,  with  the  boldness  of  speech 
of  that  period,  she  came  to  him  and  said, — 

"  My  lord  Sir  Lancelot,  dear  and  courteous  sir, 
will  you  then  depart,  and  leave  me  alone  with  my 
love  and  sorrow  ?  Have  mercy  on  me,  I  pray  you, 
and  suffer  me  not  to  die  of  grief." 

"  What  would  you  have  me  do  ?"  asked  Lancelot. 

"  I  brought  you  back  to  life ;  give  me  your  love 
in  return ;  make  me  your  wedded  wife,  and  I  will 
love  you  as  never  woman  loved." 

"  That  can  I  never  do,"  said  Lancelot,  gravely. 
"  I  shall  never  wed." 

"  Then  shall  I  die  for  your  love." 

"  Think  not  of  death,  Elaine.  If  I  could  many 
woman  it  would  be  you,  for  I  could  love  you 
dearly  were  my  heart  free.  For  your  gentleness 
and  kindness  thus  only  can  I  repay  you.  If  you 
can  set  your  heart  upon  some  worthy  knight  who 
is  free  to  wed  you,  I  shall  give  to  you  and  your 
heirs  a  thousand  pounds  yearly,  as  some  small 
payment  of  the  debt  I  owe  you." 

"  You  speak  idly  and  coldly,  Sir  Lancelot.  Your 
money  I  will  have  none  of ;  and  as  for  wedding,  I 
have  but  the  choice  to  wed  you  or  wed  my  death." 

"  You  rend  my  heart,  fair  Elaine.  Would  that 
it  could  be  as  you  wish.  Alas  I  that  can  never 
be." 

At  this,  with  a  cry  of  heart-pain,  the  distressed 
maiden  fell  swooning  at  his  feet.  Thence  she  was 
borne  by  women  to  her  chamber,  where  she  lay, 
lamenting  like  one  whose  heart  is  broken. 


HOW   ELAINE   DIED   FOB   LOVE.  155 

Sir  Bernard  now  came  to  Lancelot,  who  was 
preparing  to  depart,  and  said, — 

"  Dear  sir,  it  grieves  me  to  find  my  daughter 
Elaine  in  such  a  distressful  state.  I  fear  she  may 
die  for  your  sake." 

"  It  grieves  me  as  deeply,"  said  Lancelot.  "  But 
what  can  I  do  ?  That  she  loves  me  so  deeply  I 
am  sorry  to  learn,  for  I  have  done  nothing  to  en- 
courage it,  as  your  son  can  testify.  I  know  that 
she  is  a  true  and  noble  maiden,  and  will  do  all  that 
I  can  for  her  as  an  honest  knight ;  but  love  her  as 
she  loves  me  I  cannot,  and  to  wed  I  am  forbidden. 
Yet  her  distress  wounds  me  sorely." 

"  Father,"  said  Lavaine,  "  I  dare  avow  that  she 
is  as  pure  and  good  as  my  lord  Sir  Lancelot  has 
said.  In  loving  him  she  does  but  what  I  do,  for 
since  I  first  saw  him  I  could  never  depart  from 
him  ;  nor  shall  I  leave  him  so  long  as  he  will  bear 
my  company." 

Then  Lancelot  took  his  leave,  and  he  and  La- 
vaine rode  together  to  Camelot,  where  Arthur  and 
the  whole  court  received  the  errant  knight  with 
the  utmost  joy  and  warmest  welcome.  Queen 
Guenever  alone  failed  to  greet  him  kindly,  her 
jealous  anger  continuing  so  bitter  that  she  would 
not  give  him  a  word  or  a  look,  seek  as  he  would. 

But  the  joy  and  brightness  at  Camelot  were  re- 
placed by  darkness  at  Astolat,  for  the  fair  Elaine 
was  in  such  sorrow  day  and  night  that  she  neither 
ate,  drank,  nor  slept ;  and  ever  she  sadly  moaned 
and  bewailed  the  cruelty  of  Sir  Lancelot. 


156      THE   LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   AND   OUENEVEB. 

Ten  days  of  this  brought  her  so  near  her  end, 
that  her  old  father,  with  sad  heart,  sent  for  the 
priest  to  give  her  the  last  sacraments.  But  even 
then  she  made  her  plaints  of  Lancelot's  coldness 
so  mournfully,  that  the  ghostly  father  bade  her 
cease  such  thoughts. 

"Why  should  I?"  she  cried.  "Am  I  not  a 
woman,  with  a  woman's  heart  and  feelings? 
While  the  breath  is  in  my  body  I  must  lament 
my  fate ;  for  I  hold  it  no  offence  to  love,  and  take 
God  to  witness  that  I  never  have  and  never  can 
love  other  than  Lancelot  du  Lake.  Since  it  is 
God's  will  that  I  must  die  from  unrequited  love 
of  so  noble  a  knight,  I  pray  for  his  mercy  and 
forgiveness  of  all  my  sins.  Never  did  I  offend 
deeply  against  God's  laws ;  but  it  was  not  in  my 
nature  to  withstand  the  fervent  love  that  is  bring- 
ing me  to  my  death." 

Then  she  sent  for  her  father  and  brother,  and 
prayed  them  to  write  a  letter  as  she  might  dic- 
tate. This  they  did,  writing  down  the  mournful 
words  which  she  spoke. 

"  Now,"  she  said,  "  this  more  I  command  you  to 
do.  When  I  am  dead,  put  this  letter  in  my  right 
hand  before  my  body  grows  cold.  Then  see  that 
I  be  richly  dressed  and  laid  in  a  fair  bed,  and  take 
me  in  a  chariot  to  the  river  Thames.  There  lay 
my  body  in  a  barge,  covered  with  black  samite, 
and  with  but  one  man  to  steer  the  barge  down 
the  river  to  Camelot." 

All  this  they,  weeping  sadly,  agreed  to  do,  and 


ELAINE  AND  THE  DUMB  ROWER. 


HOW   ELAINE   DIED   FOR   LOVK.  157 

soon  afterwards  the  maiden  died,  slain  by  her  love. 
Her  sad  old  father  then  had  all  done  as  she  had 
requested. 

Meanwhile,  in  Camelot  the  world  moved  mer- 
rily. But  one  morning,  by  fortune,  as  King 
Arthur  and  Queen  Guenever  stood  talking  at  a 
window,  they  espied  a  black  barge  drifting  slowly 
down  the  river.  Wondering  much  what  it  meant, 
the  king  called  Sir  Kay  and  two  other  knights, 
and  sent  them  to  the  river,  bidding  them  to  bring 
him  speedy  word  of  what  the  barge  contained. 

This  they  did.  On  reaching  the  river-side  they 
found  that  the  barge  had  been  turned  inward,  and 
lay  beside  the  bank,  and  to  their  surprise  they  saw 
in  it  a  rich  bed,  on  which  lay  the  corpse  of  as  fair 
a  woman  as  they  had  ever  beheld.  In  the  stern 
of  the  barge  sat,  with  oar  in  hand,  a  poor  man 
who  seemed  dumb,  for  no  word  would  he 


"  That  corpse  m  ust  I  see,"  said  the  king,  when 
word  of  this  evont  was  brought  him.  "Surely 
this  betokens  something  strange." 

He  took  the  queen  by  the  hand  and  went  to  the 
river-side  with  her.  Here  the  barge  had  been 
made  fast,  and  they  stepped  from  the  shore  to  its 
deck.  There  they  saw  the  corpse  of  a  beautiful 
maiden,  dressed  in  costly  attire,  and  lying  in  a  bod 
which  was  richly  covered  with  cloth  of  gold. 
And  as  she  lay  she  seemed  to  smile. 

The  queen  now  espied  a  letter  clasped  closely 
in  her  right  hand,  and  showed  it  to  the  king. 
14 


158      THE   LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   ANT    GUENEVEK. 

"  That  will  surely  tell  us  who  she  is,  and  why 
she  has  come  hither,"  he  said. 

He  thereupon  took  the  letter  and  returned  with 
the  queen  to  the  palace.  Here,  surrounded  by 
many  knights,  he  broke  the  seal,  and  gave  the 
epistle  to  a  clerk  to  read.  This  was  its  purport, — 

"Most  noble  knight,  Sir  Lancelot,  now  hath 
death  made  us  two  at  debate  for  your  love.  I  was 
your  lover,  she  whom  men  called  the  Fair  Maid 
of  Astolat ;  therefore  unto  all  ladies  I  make  my 
moan,  and  I  beg  you  to  pray  for  my  soul,  and  at 
the  least  to  bury  me,  and  offer  my  mass-penny. 
This  is  my  last  request.  God  is  my  witness  that 
I  die  a  pure  maiden.  Pray  for  my  soul,  Sir 
Lancelot,  as  thou  art  peerless." 

When  this  pitiful  letter  had  been  read,  all  who 
heard  it  shed  tears,  for  never  had  they  heard 
aught  so  moving.  Then  Lancelot  was  sent  for 
and  the  letter  read  to  him. 

"  A  sorrowful  thing  is  this,"  he  said,  in  grievous 
tones.  "  Then  she  is  dead,  the  fair  Elaine,  and 
thus,  with  silent  lips,  makes  her  last  prayer. 
Truly  it  wounds  me  to  the  heart.  Yet,  my  lord 
Arthur,  God  knows  I  had  no  just  share  in  the 
death  of  this  maiden,  as  her  brother  here,  Sir 
Lavaine,  can  testify.  She  was  fair  and  good,  and 
I  owed  her  much,  but  she  loved  me  beyond  meas- 
ure, and  her  love  I  could  not  return." 

"  You  might  have  shown  her,"  said  the  queen, 
reprovingly,  "  some  bounty  and  gentleness,  and 
thus  have  preserved  her  life." 


flOW  KLAINB   DIKD   FOE   LOVE.  159 

"Madam,"  said  Lancelot,  "naught  would  she 
have  but  my  love,  and  my  hand  in  marriage.  I 
offered  to  endow  her  with  a  thousand  pounds 
yearly,  if  she  should  love  and  wed  any  other,  but 
to  this  she  would  not  listen.  As  for  me,  I  had  no 
other  comfort  to  give  her,  for  love  cannot  be  con- 
strained, but  must  rise  of  itself  from  the  heart." 

"  Truly  must  it,"  said  the  king.  "  Love  is  free 
in  itself,  and  will  not  be  bound,  for  if  bonds  be 
placed  upon  it,  it  looseth  itself  perforce.  As  for 
this  unhappy  maiden,  nothing  is  left  for  you  but 
to  obey  her  last  pitiful  request." 

"  That  shall  I  to  the  utmost  of  my  power,"  said 
Lancelot. 

Then  many  knights  and  ladies  went  to  behold 
the  fair  maiden,  who  had  come  thither  in  such 
moving  wise.  And  in  the  morning  she  was  richly 
interred,  and  with  all  due  honor,  at  Lancelot's 
command ;  and  he  offered  her  mass-penny,  as  did 
all  the  knights  who  were  there  present. 

Then  the  poor  dumb  servitor  returned  again 
with  the  barge,  rowing  it  slowly  and  sadly  back 
to  Astolat. 

Afterwards  the  queen  sent  for  Lancelot,  and 
begged  his  pardon  humbly  for  her  causeless 
anger. 

"This  is  not  the  first  time,"  said  Lancelot, 
"  that  you  have  been  displeased  with  me  without 
cause.  What  you  will,  I  must  bear,  and  keep  my 
sorrow  within  my  heart  j  yet  I  would  that  your 
love  were  less  tainted  by  hasty  jealousy.  As  for 


160      THB   LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   AND   QUENEVXH 

forgiving  you,  what  else  can  I  do,  my  queen? 
Love  cannot  live  without  forgiveness." 

After  these  events  the  winter  and  spring  passed 
on,  with  hunting  and  hawking,  and  jousts  and 
tournaments,  and  the  fate  of  the  fair  Elaine  was 
wellnigh  forgotten  in  the  joy  of  the  court.  But 
her  brother  Lavaine  gained  great  honor,  and  at  a 
tournament  that  was  given  on  Candlemas  day  did 
so  nobly  that  the  king  promised  he  should  be 
made  a  Knight  of  the  Bound  Table  at  the  next 
feast  of  Pentecost. 

And  at  this  tournament  Lancelot  again  fought 
in  disguise,  wearing  a  sleeve  of  gold  of  the  queen's, 
and  did  such  deeds  that  the  prize  was  adjudged 
to  him.  Thus  a  second  time  did  he  wear  a  woman' e 
token  in  the  Mats. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE   CHEVALIER   OF   THE    CART. 

THE  year  passed  on  from  Candlemas  till  aftei 
Easter,  and  then  came  the  month  of  May,  when 
every  lusty  heart  begins  to  blossom  and  to  bear 
fruit ;  for  as  herbs  and  trees  nourish  in  May,  so 
does  the  heart  of  a  lover,  since  in  this  lusty  month 
all  lovers  gain  courage,  calling  to  their  minds  old 
vows  and  deeds  of  gentleness,  and  much  that  was 
forgotten  in  the  winter's  chill. 


THJB   OHJBVALIEK   OF   THE   CAST.  161 

As  winter  always  defaces  and  erases  green 
summer,  so  fares  it  with  unstable  love  in  man 
and  woman.  But  as  May  flowers  and  flourishes 
in  many  gardens,  so  flowers  the  lover's  heart  in 
the  joy  of  her  to  whom  he  has  promised  his  faith. 
Yet  nowadays  men  cannot  love  seven  days  with- 
out their  love  cooling ;  for  where  love  warms  in 
haste  it  cools  as  hastily;  thus  fareth  it  in  our 
days, — soon  hot,  soon  cold.  The  old  love  was  not 
so.  Men  and  women  could  love  together  seven 
years  in  truth  and  faithfulness.  Such  was  the 
way  of  love  in  King  Arthur's  days;  but  love 
nowadays  I  liken  unto  summer  and  winter ;  now 
hot,  now  cold,  like  the  changing  seasons.  There- 
fore all  ye  who  are  lovers  call  to  your  remembrance 
the  month  of  May,  like  as  did  Queen  Guenever, 
who  while  she  lived  was  a  true  lover,  and  there- 
fore she  had  a  good  end. 

So  it  befell  in  the  month  of  May  that  Queen 
Guenever  called  unto  her  certain  knights  of  the 
Bound  Table,  inviting  them  to  ride  with  her  in 
the  early  morn  a-maying  in  the  woods  and  fields 
beside  Camelot. 

"  And  see  that  you  all  be  well  horsed,"  she  said, 
"and  clad  in  green,  either  in  silk  or  cloth.  I 
shall  bring  with  me  ten  ladies,  and  every  knight 
shall  have  a  lady  behind  him,  and  bring  with  him 
a  squire  and  two  yeomen." 

And  so,  when  morning  came,  the  ten  knights 
invited  put  on  their  gayest  robes  of  green,  and 
rode  with  the  queen  and  her  ladies,  a-maying  in 
VOL.  III.— I  14* 


162      Tfflt   LOVS   OF   LANCILOT   AND   GUENBVKK. 

the  woods  and  fields,  to  their  great  joy  and 
delight. 

Yet  this  pleasure  party  led  to  sad  results,  as  we 
have  now  to  tell.  For  there  was  a  knight  named 
Meliagrance,  son  of  King  Bagdemagus,  who  had 
a  castle,  the  gift  of  King  Arthur,  within  seven 
miles  of  Camelot.  This  knight  loved  the  queen, 
and  had  done  so  for  many  years,  and  it  had  long 
been  in  his  heart  to  steal  her  away ;  but  he  had 
never  been  able  to  find  her  without  many  knights 
about  her,  and,  chief  of  all,  Sir  Lancelot. 

When  he  heard  of  this  Maying  party,  and  that 
the  queen  would  be  attended  by  only  ten  knights, 
and  these  in  green  robes,  he  resolved  to  carry  out 
his  base  design,  and  therefore  placed  in  ambush 
twenty  men-at-arms  and  a  hundred  archers. 

So  it  happened  that  while  the  queen  and  her 
knights  were  merrily  arraying  one  another  in 
flowers  and  mosses,  and  with  wreaths  made  of 
sprays  of  fresh  green,  this  false  knight  rode  sud- 
denly from  a  wood  near  by,  followed  by  a  throng 
of  armed  men,  and  bade  them  stand,  and  yield  up 
the  queen  on  peril  of  their  lives. 

"  Traitor  knight,"  cried  Guenever,  "  what  seek 
you  to  do?  Wouldst  thou,  a  king's  son,  and  a 
knight  of  the  Round  Table,  seek  to  dishonor  the 
noble  king  who  made  you  what  you  are  ?  You 
shame  yourself  and  all  knighthood ;  but  me  you 
shall  cover  shame,  for  I  had  rather  cut  my  throat 
than  be  dishonored  by  you." 

"  Madam,  this  language  will  avail  you  nothing," 


TH1  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  CART.       163 

said  Meliagrance.  "  I  have  loved  you  many  a  year, 
and  now  that  I  have  you  at  advantage  will  take 
you  as  I  find  you." 

"  You  must  kill  us  first,  unarmed  as  we  are," 
cried  the  queen's  knights.  "  You  have  taken  us 
at  a  foul  disadvantage ;  but  you  shall  not  have  the 
queen  so  lightly  as  you  deem." 

"  Fight,  will  you  ?  Then  fight  be  it,  if  you  will 
have  it  so,"  said  Meliagrance. 

Then  the  ten  knights  drew  their  swords,  and  the 
others  spurred  upon  them  with  couched  spears. 
But  so  skilfully  did  the  queen's  defenders  use  their 
blades  that  the  spears  did  them  no  harm. 

The  battle  then  went  on  with  swords,  and  the 
ten  knights  did  noble  deeds,  slaying  many  of  their 
assailants ;  yet  they  were  so  overmatched  that 
they  soon  were  all  stretched  upon  the  earth  with 
bleeding  wounds. 

"  Sir  Meliagrance,"  cried  the  queen,  in  deep  dis- 
tress, "  kill  not  my  noble  knights,  I  pray  you.  If 
you  do  them  no  more  harm  I  will  go  with  you,  if 
you  will  take  them  with  me.  Otherwise  I  will 
slay  myself  before  you  shall  take  me." 

"  Madam,  since  you  wish  it,  they  shall  be  taken 
to  my  castle,  whither  you  must  come  with  me." 

Then  at  the  queen's  command  the  battle  ceased, 
and  the  knights  had  their  wounds  dressed.  But 
Meliagrance  watched  keenly  that  none  of  the  com- 
pany should  escape,  for  greatly  he  feared  that 
news  of  this  outrage  might  be  borne  to  Lancelot 
du  Lake 


164   THE  LOVE  OF  LANCELOT  AND  GUENEVBB, 

But  there  was  with  the  queen  a  little  page  who 
rode  a  swift  horse,  and  to  him  she  privily  spoke. 

"Slip  away,  when  you  see  the  chance,"  she 
said,  "and  bear  this  ring  to  Lancelot  du  Lake. 
Tell  him  what  has  happened,  and  pray  him  as  he 
loves  me  to  come  in  haste  to  my  rescue.  Spare 
not  your  horse,  and  stay  not  for  land  or  water." 

The  page  took  the  ring,  and  rode  carelessly  to 
the  edge  of  the  circle.  Then,  seeing  his  oppor- 
tunity, he  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  rode  away 
at  full  speed.  When  Meliagrance  saw  this  he 
ordered  instant  pursuit,  and  the  boy  was  hotly 
chased  and  fired  at  with  arrows  and  javelins  ;  yet 
the  speed  of  his  horse  soon  carried  him  beyond 
danger. 

"  Madam,"  cried  Meliagrance,  fiercely,  to  the 
queen,  "  you  are  plotting  to  betray  me.  But  if 
you  have  sent  for  Lancelot  du  Lake,  he  shall  find 
the  road  to  you  a  perilous  one,  I  warrant  him." 

And  as  they  rode  to  the  castle  he  placed  an 
ambush  of  thirty  archers  by  the  road-side,  charg- 
ing them  if  they  saw  a  knight  come  that  way  on 
a  white  horse  to  slay  the  horse.  But  he  warned 
them  not  to  assail  him  in  person,  as  they  would 
find  him  hard  to  overcome. 

This  done,  the  party  proceeded  to  the  castle ; 
but  here  the  queen  would  not  let  her  ladies  and 
knights  out  of  her  presence,  and  Meliagrance 
stood  in  such  dread  of  Lancelot  that  he  dared  not 
use  force. 

In  the  mean  time  the  page  found  Lancelot,  and 


THE    CHEVAHEK   OF   THB    PART.  166 

gave  him  the  queen's  ring  and  message,  telling 
him  the  whole  story  of  the  treacherous  assault. 

"  I  would  give  all  France  to  have  been  there 
well  armed,"  cried  Lancelot.  "  The  queen  shall  be 
saved,  or  I  will  die  in  the  effort.  Haste  you  to 
Sir  Lavaine  and  tell  him  where  I  have  gone,  and 
bid  him  follow  me  to  Meliagrance's  castle.  Tell 
him  to  come  quickly,  if  he  wishes  to  have  a  hand 
in  the  rescue  of  the  queen  and  her  knights." 

Lancelot  was  hastily  arming  as  he  spoke,  and 
mounting,  he  rode  with  all  speed,  forcing  his  horse 
to  swim  the  Thames  in  his  haste.  In  no  great 
time  he  reached  the  spot  where  the  fight  had 
taken  place,  and  where  he  found  the  garlands  the 
knights  had  worn  rent  with  sword-strokes  and 
reddened  with  their  blood.  Then  he  followed  the 
tracks  of  the  party  till  he  entered  a  narrow  pas- 
sage, bordered  by  a  wood.  Here  were  the  archers 
stationed,  and  when  Lancelot  came  by  they  bade 
him  return,  for  that  way  was  closed. 

"  Why  should  I  turn  ?"  he  demanded.  "  "Whence 
get  you  the  right  to  close  the  way?" 

"  If  you  go  forward  it  will  be  on  foot,  for  we 
shall  kill  your  horse." 

"  Go  forward  I  shall,  if  there  were  five  hundred 
more  of  you,"  said  Lancelot. 

Then  a  cloud  of  arrows  whistled  through  the 
air,  and  the  noble  horse,  struck  by  a  dozen  shafts, 
fell  to  the  earth.  Lancelot  leaped  lightly  from 
the  falling  animal,  and  rushed  in  a  rage  into  the 
wood  ;  but  there  were  so  many  hedges  and  ditches 


166   THE  LOVE  OF  LANCELOT  AND  QUENEVEB. 

that  he  found  it  impossible  to  reach  his  light* 
armed  assailants. 

"  Shame  on  this  Meliagrance  for  a  dastard  1"  he 
cried  in  anger.  "  It  is  a  true  old  saw  that  a  good 
man  is  never  in  danger  but  from  a  coward." 

The  angry  knight,  finding  that  his  assailants 
were  beyond  his  reach,  set  out  on  foot  for  Melia- 
granee's  castle,  but  found  himself  so  encumbered 
with  bis  armor,  shield,  and  spear,  that  his  progress 
was  but  slow.  Yet  he  dared  not  leave  any  of  his 
arms,  for  fear  of  giving  his  foe  an  advantage. 

At  length,  by  good  fortune,  there  appeared 
on  the  road  a  cart,  that  was  used  for  hauling 
wood. 

"  Tell  me,  friend  carter,"  said  Lancelot,  when 
the  vehicle  came  near,  "  what  shall  I  give  you  for 
a  ride  in  your  cart  to  a  castle  that  lies  a  few  miles 
away  ?" 

"You  can  give  me  nothing,"  said  the  carter. 
"  I  am  sent  to  bring  wood  for  my  lord,  Sir  Melia- 
grance, and  it  is  not  my  fashion  to  work  for  two 
at  once.'' 

"  It  is  Sir  Meliagrance  I  seek." 

"Then  go  on  foot,"  said  the  carter,  surlily. 
"  My  cart  is  for  other  work." 

Incensed  at  this,  Lancelot  dealt  the  fellow  a 
blow  with  his  mailed  fist  that  stretched  him 
senseless  on  the  ground.  Then  he  turned  to  the 
carter's  comrade. 

"Strike  me  not,  fair  sir,"  pleaded  this  fellow 
"  I  will  bring  you  where  you  wish." 


THE  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  CART.       167 

"Then  drive  me  and  this  cart  to  the  gtte  of 
Meliagrance's  castle." 

"Leap  into  the  cart,  and  you  shall  bo  there 
before  the  day  grows  old." 

This  Lancelot  did,  and  the  carter  lashed  his 
horse  forward  with  all  speed,  for  he  was  in  mortal 
fear  of  the  knight's  hard  fist. 

An  hour  and  a  half  afterwards,  as  Guenever 
and  her  ladies  stood  in  a  window  of  the  castle, 
they  saw  a  cart  approaching,  in  which  stood  up- 
right an  armed  knight,  resting  on  his  spear.  Even 
at  that  distance  they  knew  him  by  his  shield  to 
be  Lancelot  du  Lake. 

"A  noble  and  trusty  friend  he  is,  indeed,  to 
come  in  such  a  fashion,"  said  the  queen.  "  Hard 
bested  he  must  have  been,  to  be  forced  to  ride 
hither  in  a  woodman's  cart." 

As  they  looked,  the  cart  came  to  the  castle 
gates,  and  Lancelot  sprang  from  it  to  the  ground, 
his  heart  full  of  rage  and  passion. 

"  Where  art  thou,  traitor  ?"  he  cried,  in  a  voice 
that  rang  throughout  the  castle.  "  Come  forth, 
thou  disgrace  to  the  Bound  Table  fellowship! 
Come,  with  all  your  men ;  for  here  am  I,  Lancelot 
du  Lake,  who  will  fight  you  all  single-handed  on 
this  question." 

As  he  spoke  he  thrust  the  gates  open  with  such 
force  that  the  porter,  who  sought  to  hold  them 
shut,  was  hurled  like  a  dead  man  to  the  earth. 

When  Meliagrance  in  the  castle  heard  this  loud 
defiance  his  cowardly  soul  sank  within  him,  for 


168   THE  LOVE  OP  LANCELOT  AND  GUENEVE*. 

weU  he  knew  from  whom  it  came,  and  he  ran  in 
haste  to  the  queen  and  fell  on  his  knees  before 
her,  begging  her  to  forgive  him  and  to  cool  the 
wrath  of  Lancelot.  So  pitifully  did  he  implore, 
that  in  the  end  Guenever  was  moved  to  compas- 
sion, and  went  with  her  ladies  to  the  castle  court, 
where  Lancelot  stood  furiously  bidding  the  traitor 
knight  to  come  down  and  do  battle. 

"  Why  are  you  so  moved,  Lancelot?"  asked  the 
queen. 

"  "Why  should  I  not  be  ?"  he  cried,  in  a  rage. 
"  The  hound  has  killed  my  horse  and  stolen  my 
queen.  Is  this  the  thing  to  bear  like  a  lamb  ?" 

"  He  sorely  repents  his  fault,  and  has  moved  me 
to  forgive  him,"  said  the  queen.  "  Come  in,  then, 
peaceably,  I  beg  you,  for  I  have  passed  my  word." 

"  You  accord  easily  with  this  dog  of  a  kidnap- 
per," said  Lancelot,  sourly.  "  Had  I  looked  for 
this  I  might  have  spared  my  haste  and  saved  my 
horse." 

"  It  is  not  through  love  or  favor  I  have  forgiven 
him,"  said  the  queen,  "  but  to  check  the  voice  of 
scandal." 

"  I  am  no  fonder  of  scandal  than  yourself,"  said 
Lancelot.  "  Yet  if  I  had  my  will  I  would  make 
this  fellow's  heart  full  cold  before  I  left  this  castle." 

"I  know  that  well,  but  beg  that  you  will  be 
ruled  by  me  in  this  affair." 

"  Let  it  be  so,  if  you  have  passed  your  word, 
But  you  are  too  soft  of  heart,  Queen  Guenever." 

Then  she  took  his  hand,  for  he  had  taken  off 


THE  CHEVALIER  OP  THE  OAKT.       169 

his  gauntlet,  and  led  him  into  the  castle,  and 
to  the  chamber  in  which  lay  the  ten  wounded 
knights,  whoso  hearts  warmed  at  his  coming. 
From  them  he  learned  in  full  what  had  occurred, 
a  story  which  stirred  his  blood  again  into  such  a 
flame,  that  only  the  soft  hand  of  the  queen  hin- 
dered him  from  seeking  Meliagrance  through  the 
castle  to  slay  him. 

As  they  stood  talking,  Sir  Lavaine  rode  furi- 
ously in  at  the  gate,  crying, — 

"  Where  is  my  lord,  Sir  Lancelot  du  Lake  ?" 

"Here  I  am,"  cried  Lancelot  from  a  window. 
"  All  is  well,  Lavaine." 

"I  found  your  horse  slain  with  arrows,  and 
judged  you  were  hard  pushed." 

"  As  for  that,  Lavaine,  soft  words  have  turned 
hard  blows.  Come  in.  We  shall  right  this  matter 
at  another  time,  when  we  best  may." 

For  many  a  day  thereafter,  as  the  French  book 
says,  Lancelot  was  called  the  Chevalier  of  the 
Cart,  and  many  an  adventure  he  had  under  that 
homely  name. 

All  went  peacefully  that  night  at  the  castle, 
but  the  next  morning  there  was  new  trouble.  Foi 
one  of  the  castle  maidens  brought  word  to  Melia- 
grance that  she  had  found  what  seemed  to  be  the 
print  of  a  bloody  hand  on  the  coverings  of  the 
queen's  bed.  Thither  he  hurried,  full  of  jealous 
anger,  and  found  what  appeared,  indeed,  to  be  the 
crimson  print  of  a  man's  hand.  On  seeing  this 
he  made  a  loud  outcry,  declaring  that  it  was  the 
H  15 


170      THE   LOVS   OF   LANCELOT  AND   OUENBVML 

blood  of  one  of  the  wounded  knights,  and  fiercely 
accusing  Guenever  of  having  been  false  to  her 
lord  King  Arthur. 

When  word  of  this  accusation  came  to  the 
wounded  knights  they  were  filled  with  indigna- 
tion, and  cried  that  they  would  meet  Meliagrance 
or  any  man  in  the  lists  in  defence  of  the  queen's 
honor. 

"  Ye  speak  proudly,"  said  Meliagrance.  "  Yet 
look  here,  and  see  if  I  have  not  warrant  for  what 
I  say." 

When  he  showed  them  the  red  witness  of  his 
words  they  were  abashed,  and  knew  not  what  to 
answer. 

All  this  was  told  to  Lancelot,  and  he  came  in 
haste  and  anger  to  the  queen's  chamber. 

"  What  is  this  ? '  he  demanded. 

"  It  is  that  the  queen  has  proved  false  to  her 
lord  and  husband,  and  this  I  stand  ready  to  prove 
with  my  body,"  said  Meliagrance. 

"  Beware  what  you  say,  sir  knight,"  cried  Lan- 
celot," or  you  will  find  your  challenge  taken." 

"My  lord  Lancelot,"  answered  Meliagrance, 
"good  knight  as  you  are,  take  heed  how  you  do 
battle  in  a  wrong  quarrel,  for  God  will  have  a  hand 
in  such  a  cause." 

"  This  I  say,"  answered  Lancelot,  hotly,  "  that 
you  accuse  the  queen  wrongly,  and  these  noble 
knights  as  falsely.  This  is  the  work  of  treason 
or  magic." 

"  Hold,"  said  Meliagrance  ;  "  here  is  my  glove, 


THE    CHEVALIER   OF   THE    OART.  171 

in  proof  that  she  is  traitress  to  the  king,  and  that 
one  of  these  wounded  knights  is  her  leman." 

;<  I  accept  your  challenge,"  said  Lancelot,  "  and 
will  fight  you  to  the  death  in  this  cause.  When 
shall  we  do  battle  ?" 

"Let  it  be  in  eight  days  from  this,"  said  Melia- 
grance,  "  in  the  field  beside  Camelot." 

"  I  am  agreed,"  said  Lancelot. 

"  Then  let  us  go  to  dinner,"  said  Meliagrance, 
"  and  afterwards  you  and  the  queen  and  her 
knights  may  ride  to  Camelot." 

Yet  fairly  as  he  spoke  his  heart  was  full  of 
treachery,  and  before  going  to  the  table  he  asked 
Lancelot  if  he  would  care  to  see  the  rooms  and 
passages  of  the  castle. 

"  If  you  wish  to  show  them,"  said  Lancelot. 

Then  they  went  from  chamber  to  chamber,  Lan 
celot  having  no  fear  of  peril  or  thought  of  treason. 
But  as  they  traversed  a  long  and  dark  passage  the 
false-hearted  host  trod  on  a  spring,  and  down  fell 
a  trap-door,  giving  Lancelot  a  fall  of  more  than 
ten  fathoms  into  a  dark  cell,  whose  floor  was  cov- 
ered deeply  with  straw.  This  done,  Meliagranoe 
hastened  away,  after  replacing  the  trap,  and  or- 
dered one  of  his  men  to  remove  Lavaine's  horse 
from  the  stable. 

When  the  knights  came  to  dinner  all  were  sur- 
prised that  Lancelot  was  not  present. 

"  Is  this  one  of  his  old  tricks  ?"  asked  the  queen. 
"He  has  a  fashion  of  thus  departing  suddenly, 
without  warning." 


172   THE  LOVE  OF  LANCELOT  AND  GmBNEVER. 

"  But  not  on  foot,"  said  Lavaine,  and  left  the 
room. 

When  he  returned,  it  was  to  say  that  his  horse 
had  vanished  from  the  stable,  and  that  doubtless 
Lancelot  had  taken  it  and  ridden  off.  So  they  sat 
quietly  at  dinner,  and  afterwards  set  out  for  the 
court,  the  wounded  knights  being  carried  under 
Dare  of  Lavaine,  in  easy  litters. 

When  the  court  was  reached,  and  Arthur  was 
told  of  what  had  occurred,  he  was  full  of  wrath. 

"  So  this  traitor  Meliagrance  chooses  first  tc 
kidnap  my  queen,  and  then  to  accuse  her  of 
treason?"  he  cried.  "  By  my  crown,  I  would  deal 
with  him  in  another  fashion  only  that  Lancelot 
has  taken  the  challenge.  I  fancy  the  fellow  will 
have  his  hands  full,  without  my  care.  But  where 
is  Lancelot?" 

"  That  we  know  not,"  said  the  knights.  "  It  is 
like  him  to  go  off  in  this  hasty  way.  He  took 
Sir  Lavaine's  horse,  and  left  us  without  a  word 
of  parting." 

"  Let  him  be,"  said  the  king.  "  He  will  come 
in  good  time, — unless  he  be  trapped  by  some 
treachery." 

Little  dreamed  they  of  Lancelot's  true  situation 
at  that  moment.  He  had  been  sorely  bruised  by 
his  fall,  and  lay  in  great  pain  in  the  cave,  visited 
only  by  a  lady,  who  came  to  him  daily  with  food. 
Yet  it  happened,  as  had  occurred  so  often  to 
Lancelot,  that  the  lady  fell  in  love  with  his  hand- 
some face.  Meliagrance  had  made  a  foolish  choice 


THE    CHEVALIER   OF   THE   CAKI.  173 

in  sending  a  woman  with  a  soft  heart  to  his  pris- 
oner, and  was  likely  to  pay  dearly  for  his  folly. 
Yet  days  passed  on,  and  Lancelot  continued  deaf 
to  her  sighs  and  blind  to  her  languishing  looks. 

"  Sir  Lancelot,"  she  at  length  said,  "  do  you  not 
know  that  your  lady,  Queen  Guenover,  will  be 
burnt  at  the  stake  unless  you  be  there  at  the  day 
of  battle  ?" 

"  God  forbid  that  such  a  disaster  should  come 
to  pass !"  cried  Lancelot.  "  Yet  if  I  should  not 
be  there,  all  men  of  worship  will  know  that  I  am 
dead,  sick,  °r  in  prison,  for  men  know  me  well 
enough  to  know  that  nothing  less  would  keep  me 
away.  Therefore,  some  knight  of  my  blood  or  of 
Tay  fellowship  will  take  up  this  battle,  and  fight 
Dravely  in  the  queen's  cause." 

"  I  shall  set  you  free,  Sir  Lancelot,  to  fight  your 
own  battle,  if  you  will  but  give  me  your  love ;  for 
truly  I  love  you  with  my  whole  heart." 

"I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  return  it,"  said 
Lancelot.  "  But  I  cannot  lie  to  you  in  such  a 
cause,  even  for  life  or  honor." 

"  Take  heed  what  you  say,  Sir  Lancelot.  Shame 
will  be  your  lot  if  any  but  you  fight  this  battle." 

"  As  for  the  world's  shame,  may  Christ  defend 
me.  As  for  my  distress  of  heart,  it  is  welcome, 
if  God  sends  it." 

The  lady  went  away  full  of  sorrowful  thoughts. 
But  on  the  morning  of  the  day  fixed  for  the  battle 
she  came  to  him  again,  and  said,  gently, — 

"  Sir  Lancelot,  I  deem  you  hard-hearted  and 
16* 


174   THX  LOVE  OF  LANCELOT  AND  GUENIVER. 

cruel ;  yet  I  love  you  too  truly  to  see  you  dis- 
graced. If  you  will  solace  my  heart-pain  with 
but  one  kiss,  I  will  set  you  free,  and  deliver  to 
you  your  armor,  and  the  best  horse  in  the  castle 
stables." 

"  Surely  there  is  no  dishonor  in  a  kiss ;  and  well 
will  you  earn  it  by  such  service,"  said  Lancelot. 
"  You  offer  me  new  life,  fair  lady." 

Then  he  kissed  her ;  and  with  a  face  half  glad, 
half  gloomy,  she  led  him  from  the  prison  by  a 
secret  passage  to  the  chamber  where  his  armor 
had  been  left.  And  when  he  was  armed  she  con- 
ducted him  privily  to  a  stable  where  stood  twelve 
good  horses,  and  bade  him  make  his  choice. 

Lancelot  chose  a  white  courser,  whose  size  and 
spirit  pleased  him  most,  and  this  he  deftly  saddled 
and  bridled.  Then,  with  spear  in  hand  and  sword 
by  side,  he  commended  the  lady  to  God,  saying, — 

"  Lady,  for  this  good  deed  I  shall  do  you  ample 
service  if  ever  it  be  in  my  power.  If  not,  may 
God  reward  you." 

This  said,  he  rode  with  proud  mien  from  the 
castle,  and  galloped  at  headlong  speed  away,  while 
she,  with  sad  eyes  and  sighing  lips,  stood  looking 
with  loving  regard  on  his  departing  form. 

Sadly  was  his  coming  needed,  for  imminent  was 
the  peril  of  the  queen.  At  the  place  fixed  for 
the  combat  knights  and  lords  had  early  gathered, 
and  Meliagrance,  feeling  sure  that  Lancelot  could 
not  appear  to  do  battle,  put  on  a  haughty  mien, 
and  loudly  demanded  justice,  or  the  combat,  Yet 


THE    CHEVALIER   OF   THE    CART.  175 

the  hour  appointed  came  and  passed,  and  the 
queen's  champion  had  not  appeared;  while  the 
king  and  all  the  court  grew  full  of  pain  and  dread 
as  the  fatal  moments  went  by.  The  laws  were 
strict,  and  could  not  be  set  aside  for  queen  or  com- 
moner. Guenever  must  perish  at  the  stake,  or  be 
saved  by  a  champion's  sword  and  spear.  There- 
fore, as  the  minutes  slowly  grew  into  hours,  and 
nothing  of  Lancelot  was  seen,  while  Meliagranco 
more  loudly  demanded  justice  or  a  champion,  all 
hearts  sank  deep  in  despair. 

"  My  lord  the  king,"  cried  Lavaine,  at  length, 
"  some  sad  misfortune  has  happened  to  Sir  Lance- 
lot. Never  did  he  fail  to  appear  to  do  battle 
unless  he  were  sick  or  in  prison.  I  beseech  you, 
therefore,  give  me  leave  this  day  to  do  battle  for 
him,  and  to  strike  a  knightly  blow  for  my  lady  the 
queen." 

"  Thanks,  gentle  knight,"  said  the  king.  " T 
dare  avow  that  the  charge  which  Meliagrance 
lays  upon  the  queen  is  a  false  one,  for  of  these  tea 
wounded  knights  who  were  present,  there  is  not 
one  but  would  gladly  do  battle  to  prove  its  falsity 
were  he  able  to  wear  armor." 

"That  shall  I  do  in  the  service  of  my  lord 
Lancelot,"  said  Lavaine;  "  if  you  will  give  me 
leave." 

"  Full  leave  you  have,"  answered  the  king.  "  I 
pray  you  do  your  best ;  for  it  seems  sure  that 
some  treachery  has  been  done  to  the  noble  Lan- 
celot" 


176   THE  LOVE  OF  LANCELOT  AND  QUBNIVKK. 

L avail} e  now  armed  in  all  haste,  and,  mounting 
his  war-courser,  rode  into  the  lists,  where  he  faced 
Meliagrance,  challenging  him  to  do  battle  to  the 
death. 

"  Losses  les  aller  I"  cried  the  heralds. 

The  two  champions  couched  their  spears, 
clutched  their  bridles,  and  were  about  to  plunge 
the  spurs  into  their  horses'  flanks,  when  the  sound 
of  hoofs  was  beard  witbout,  and  an  armed  knight 
came  galloping  at  furious  speed  into  the  lists. 

"  Ho !  and  abide  !"  cried  King  Arthur. 

"  Raise  your  spears,  sir  knights,  this  quarrel  is 
mine,"  said  the  new-comer.  "  You  have  my  thanks, 
Lavaine,  but  only  I  must  fight  in  this  cause." 

Then  he  rode  to  the  king,  lifted  his  visor,  and 
showed  the  noble  face  of  Lancelot,  now  hot  with 
indignation. 

"  I  am  here  to  fight  this  villain  and  traitor,"  he 
called,  loudly.  "  My  lord  the  king,  I  have  lain 
these  eight  days  in  a  prison  cell,  into  which  the 
base  bound  entrapped  me.  By  fortune  I  escaped, 
and  here  I  am,  ready  to  pay  him  in  fitting  coin  for 
his  foul  treachery." 

"  The  dog  I  has  he  done  this  thing  ?"  cried  the 
king,  in  anger.  "  Then,  by  my  crown,  whether  he 
win  or  not,  Guenever  shall  not  suffer  from  the 
charge  which  he  has  dared  bring.  But  God's 
justice  will  not  let  him  win." 

That  Meliagrance  quaked  at  heart  on  seeing  this 
seeming  apparition  from  the  grave  need  not  be 
said,  But  he  had  dared  the  hazard  of  the  die, 


THE  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  OAET.       177 

and  sat  his  horse  in  grim  silence  while  his  foul 
treachery  was  thus  made  known  to  the  court. 
Lancelot  now  rode  to  his  place  in  the  lists,  and 
faced  his  adversary. 

"  Losses  les  aller !"  cried  the  heralds  again. 

Then,  spear  in  rest,  the  warriors  spurred  their 
horses,  and  met  with  a  shock  like  thunder  in  the 
centre  of  the  field.  Lancelot  kept  his  saddle,  but 
Meliagrance  was  hurled  over  his  horse's  croup. 
Seeing  this,  Lancelot  lightly  sprang  from  his 
saddle,  drew  his  sword,  and  advanced  upon  his 
foe,  who  was  on  his  feet  ready  to  meet  him. 

Hot  and  fierce  was  the  combat  that  succeeded, 
many  great  strokes  being  given  and  returned  ;  but 
at  length  Lancelot  struck  so  fierce  a  blow  that 
Meliagrance  was  felled  to  the  ground.  Then  the 
dastard  cried  aloud  in  an  agony  of  fear, — 

"Noble  knight,  noble  Sir  Lancelot,  spare  my 
life,  I  humbly  pray  you !  I  yield  me  as  overcome 
and  recreant,  and  beseech  you,  as  a  Knight  and 
Fellow  of  the  Bound  Table,  not  to  slay  me  help- 
less. Alive  or  dead,  I  put  myself  in  your  hands 
and  the  king's." 

Lancelot  stood  looking  grimly  down  upon  him, 
at  a  loss  what  to  do.  To  slay  him  was  the  wish 
of  his  heart ;  yet  it  looked  like  murder  to  kill  a 
praying  wretch.  In  his  doubt  he  turned  towards 
the  queen,  and  she  nodded  her  head  as  if  to  bid 
him  kill  the  villain. 

"  Eise,  sir  hound,"  cried  Lancelot.     "  You  shall 
fight  this  battle  to  the  utterance." 
VOL.  III.— m 


178      THE   LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   AND   OUENBVER. 

"  I  will  never  rise,"  said  Meliagrance,  "  till 
you  grant  me  mercy  as  a  yielding  and  recreant 
knight." 

"  Coward  !"  cried  Lancelot.  "  If  you  fear  to 
fight  me  as  I  am,  I  will  give  you  odds  in  the  com- 
bat. I  will  take  off  my  armor  from  my  head  and 
the  left  side  of  my  body,  and  let  them  bind  my 
left  hand  behind  me,  and  fight  you  with  my  right 
hand  alone." 

At  this  perilous  offer  Meliagrance  started  hastily 
to  his  feet,  and  loudly  cried, — 

"  My  lord  Arthur,  you  have  heard  this  offer ! 
I  accept  it.  Let  him  be  disarmed  and  bound  as 
he  says." 

"  You  do  not  mean  to  keep  this  foolish  promise, 
Lancelot  ?"  demanded  the  king. 

"  That  do  I,"  said  Lancelot.  "  I  shall  not  go 
back  on  my  word,  be  it  wise  or  foolish." 

"  Then  so  let  it  be  ;  but  you  invite  death  by  such 
a  reckless  compact." 

The  attendant  knights  thereupon  removed  Lan- 
celot's helmet,  and  took  from  him  his  shield  and 
the  armor  from  his  left  side.  They  then  bound 
his  left  arm  behind  him,  and  thus  arrayed  he  was 
placed  before  his  antagonist,  whose  heart  burned 
with  hope  and  with  murderous  designs. 

All  those  who  looked  on  were  full  of  fear  for 
Lancelot,  deeming  it  the  height  of  folly  that  he 
should  take  such  a  frightful  risk,  while  many 
ladies  closed  their  eyes,  in  dread  to  see  him  slain. 

With  the  inspiration  of  hope,  Meliagrance  came 


THE  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  CART.       179 

up,  bearing  his  sword  uplifted,  while  Lancelot  stood 
with  his  head  and  side  fully  open  to  his  stroke. 
Down  came  the  blade  with  a  deadly  sweep  that 
caused  many  men  to  close  their  eyes,  sure  that  the 
knight's  head  would  be  cleft  in  twain. 

But  Lancelot  had  no  such  thought.  With  a 
light  swing  to  the  right  he  avoided  the  stroke, 
which  cut  idly  through  the  air ;  then,  stepping 
forward  to  give  effect  to  the  blow,  he  swung  his 
own  blade  upward  with  giant  strength,  and 
brought  it  down  on  Meliagrance's  helmet  with 
such  mighty  force  that  the  hard  steel  and  the  head 
it  covered  were  shorn  in  twain,  and  the  traitor 
knight  fell  dead  upon  the  field. 

Wild  were  the  shouts  of  joy  and  triumph  at  thif 
unlooked-for  end  to  the  combat.  The  king  sprang 
from  his  seat  and  rushed  into  the  lists,  where  he 
warmly  clasped  Lancelot  in  his  arms;  while 
Guenever,  in  joy  at  her  deliverance,  kissed  him 
on  both  cheeks;  and  all  the  knights  crowded 
around  them  with  glad  cries  and  warm  congratu- 
lations. 

As  for  Meliagrance,  he  was  given  the  burial  of 
a  recreant  and  traitor,  the  cause  of  his  death 
being  inscribed  on  his  tomb,  that  all  might  read 
his  dishonor. 

But  for  Sir  Lancelot,  the  king  and  queen  made 
more  of  him,  and  felt  more  love  for  him  in  their 
hearts,  than  ever  before. 

After  this  time  many  events  of  interest  took 
place,  of  which  we  have  little  space  to  speak 


180      THE   LOVE   OF   LANCELOT   AND   GUENEVIE. 

Among  them,  Lancelot  healed  the  wounds  of  a 
knight  of  Hungary,  named  Sir  Urre,  who  had 
been  held  in  pain,  through  sorcery,  for  seven 
years,  till  his  wounds  should  be  touched  by  the 
best  knight  in  the  world.  This  knight  had  a 
lovely  sister,  named  Felelolie,  whom  Lavaine 
married,  whereupon  King  Arthur  made  him  a 
Knight  of  the  Bound  Table,  and  gave  him  a 
barony  of  land. 

As  for  Lancelot,  he  gained  great  fame  as  the 
Chevalier  of  the  Cart.  For  as  many  lords  and 
ladies  made  sport  of  him  as  the  knight  who  had 
ridden  in  a  cart,  like  one  sentenced  to  the  gal- 
lows, for  a  whole  twelvemonth  he  never  mounted 
horse,  but  rode  only  in  a  cart,  during  which  time 
he  had  many  adventures  and  fought  forty  battles, 
in  all  of  which  he  came  off  victor. 

And  so  the  days  grew  into  years,  and  all  went 
happily  at  Arthur's  court,  though  each  passing 
day  brought  the  coming  time  of  woe  and  disaster 
nearer  to  hand. 


BOOK  XI. 

THE  HAND  OF  DESTINY. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

THE   TRAPPING  OF  THE   LION. 

IN  May,  when  every  lusty  heart  flourisheth  ana 
bourgeoneth, — for  as  winter,  with  its  rough  winds 
and  blasts,  causes  man  and  woman  to  cower  and 
sit  fast  by  the  fire,  this  fresh  and  joyous  season 
brings  them  forth  to  gladden  in  the  coming  of  the 
flowery  summer, — in  this  rare  month  of  May,  when 
only  merry  thoughts  and  gentle  deeds  should  be 
known,  there  began  a  great  and  unhappy  season 
of  wrath,  which  ended  not  till  the  flower  of 
chivalry  of  all  the  world  was  destroyed.  And 
this  all  came  about  through  the  hate  and  jealousy 
of  two  unhappy  knights,  Sir  Agravaine  and  Sir 
Mordred,  brothers  unto  Sir  Gawaine. 

For  much  in  their  secret  souls  they  hated  the 
queen  and  Lancelot,  and  they  fell  to  watching 
this  good  knight  daily  and  nightly,  with  the  hope 
of  bringing  him  in  some  way  to  shame. 

Failing  in  this  base  endeavor,  they  no  longer 
concealed  their  enmity,  but  began  to  talk  openly 
16  181 


182  THE   HAND   OP   DESTINY. 

of  the  love  of  Lancelot  for  the  queen,  and  to  hint 
that  shameful  relations  existed  between  them. 
The  report  of  this  slanderous  talk  coming  to 
Gawaine's  ears,  he  reproved  them  sharply  for 
indulging  in  such  base  and  unworthy  scandal,  in 
which  he  was  joined  by  his  brothers  Gareth  and 
Gaheris. 

"  You  forget  what  Lancelot  has  done  for  you," 
said  Gawaine.  "  Who  but  he  rescued  you  both 
when  held  in  prison  by  Sir  Turquin  ?  And 
many  other  things  he  has  done  in  your  favor. 
Methinks  such  kind  deeds  merit  better  return 
than  this." 

"  Think  as  you  will,"  said  Agravaine,  "  I  have 
my  opinions  and  shall  hide  them  no  longer." 

As  they  thus  debated  King  Arthur  approached. 

"  Now,  brothers,  stint  your  noise,"  said  Gawaine. 

"  That  will  we  not,"  they  replied. 

"  Then  the  devil  speed  the  pair  of  you,  if  you 
are  bent  on  mischief !  I  will  listen  to  no  more  of 
your  slanderous  talk." 

"  Nor  will  we,"  said  Gareth  and  Gaheris.  "  We 
owe  too  much  to  Lancelot  to  listen  to  the  false 
tales  of  evil  tongues." 

With  this  they  turned  and  walked  away  in 
anger  and  grief,  as  Arthur  came  up. 

"  What  is  this  ?"  asked  the  king.  "  Is  there  bad 
blood  between  you  brethren  ?" 

"They  do  not  care  to  hear  the  truth,"  said 
Agravaine,"  but  to  my  fancy  it  has  been  kept  too 
long  from  your  knowledge.  We  are  your  sister's 


THE   TRAPPING   OP   THK   LION.  183 

sons,  King  Arthur,  and  it  is  our  duty  to  be  honest 
and  open  with  you." 

"  What  would  you  say  ?"  asked  the  king. 

"  Simply  what  we  and  all  your  court  know  wull, 
that  there  are  such  doings  between  Lancelot  and 
your  queen  as  are  a  disgrace  to  this  realm  of 
England.  He  is  a  traitor  to  your  person  and  your 
honor,  and  this  we  stand  ready  to  prove." 

"  This  is  a  perilous  charge  you  make,"  said 
Arthur,  deeply  moved.  "  Nor  am  I  ready  to  be- 
lieve such  a  tale  on  your  mere  word.  You  have 
gone  far,  gentlemen ;  too  far,  I  deem,  without, 
abundant  proof." 

"  My  lord,"  said  Mordred,  "  we  speak  not  with- 
out due  warrant,  and  proof  you  shall  have.  What 
we  advise  is,  that  you  ride  out  to  the  hunt  to- 
morrow. Lancelot,  you  will  find,  will  have  some 
excuse  to  hold  back.  Then,  when  night  draws 
near,  send  word  to  the  queen  that  you  will  lie  out 
all  that  night.  Let  this  be  done,  and  we  promise 
you  we  shall  take  him  with  the  queen.  If  we  do 
it  will  go  hard  with  Lancelot ;  for  we  shall  not 
lightly  see  our  king  brought  to  shame." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  the  king,  after  deep  thought, 
for  he  was  little  inclined  to  believe  ill  of  Lance- 
lot. "  I  will  do  as  you  say.  Understand,  sir 
knights,  I  have  heard  all  this  before ;  yet  I  believe 
it  not,  and  I  consent  to  your  scheme  only  to  put 
an  end  to  the  vile  voice  of  scandal." 

On  the  next  morning,  as  agreed  upon,  Arthur 
rode  to  the  hunt ;  but  Lancelot  excused  himself, 


184  THE   HAND  OF  DESTINY. 

as  his  enemies  had  predicted,  on  the  plea  that  he 
was  in  no  mood  for  the  chase.  When  night  came 
near  a  messenger  from  the  king  brought  word  to 
Gnenever  that  the  hunting  party  had  been  drawn 
far  away,  and  would  not  return  that  night. 

Meanwhile  Mordred  and  Agravaine  selected 
twelve  knights,  all  of  them  enemies  of  Lancelot, 
to  whom  they  told  their  purpose,  and  set  them  on 
guard  in  the  castle  of  Carlisle,  where  the  court 
then  was.  Of  Lancelot's  friends  few  were  in  the 
court,  for  nearly  all  had  gone  with  the  king  to 
the  hunt. 

When  night  came,  Lancelot  told  Bors,  who 
dwelt  with  him,  that  he  had  a  fancy  to  go  and 
speak  with  the  queen. 

"  Do  not  go  to-night,  I  pray  you,"  said  Bors. 

"Why  not  to-night?" 

"  I  fear  some  plot  of  that  rogue,  Agravaine,  who 
has  it  in  his  heart  to  work  you  ill.  I  have  heard 
a  whisper,  and  fear  that  the  king's  absence  to-night 
is  part  of  a  plot,  and  that  an  ambush  is  laid  to  do 
you  harm." 

"  Have  no  dread  of  that,"  said  Lancelot.  "  1 
wish  only  some  minutes'  conversation  with  the 
queen,  and  will  quickly  return  again." 

"  I  should  rather  you  would  not  go.  I  am  in 
doubt  that  some  evil  may  come  of  it." 

"  Why  say  you  this,  nephew  ?  Do  yr"  deem 
that  I  am  a  coward,  or  that  the  queen  is  my  mis- 
tress, as  the  evil-tongued  say  ?  1  go  because  she 
has  sent  for  me,  desiring  to  see  me.  Am  I  the 


THE    TRAPPING   OF    TIIE    LION.  185 

man  to  deny  her  request  because  there  are  foul- 
mouthed  slanderers  abroad  ?" 

"  Go,  then,  since  I  see  you  will.  God  speed 
you,  and  send  you  back  safe  and  sound." 

Lancelot  thereupon  wrapped  himself  in  his 
mantle,  and  taking  his  sword  under  his  arm  made 
his  way  to  the  castle,  which  was  some  distance 
from  his  residence.  Here  he  sought  and  entered 
the  queen's  chamber,  where  she  awaited  him  with 
her  ladies. 

But  no  sooner  had  he  done  so,  and  scarcely  had 
he  spoken  a  word  to  his  royal  lady,  than  Mordred, 
Agravaine,  and  their  followers  burst  in  tumuli 
from  the  chamber  in  which  they  had  been  con- 
cealed, and  loudly  exclaimed, — 

"  Traitor  knight  I  Lancelot  du  Lake,  false  and 
caitiff  wretch,  now  art  thou  taken  in  thy  treason  I" 

So  loud  they  cried  that  their  voices  rang 
throughout  the  court,  and  they  crowded  round 
the  door  of  the  queen's  chamber,  bent  on  taking 
Lancelot  unarmed,  and  slaying  him  at  the  feet  of 
Guenever.  Fortunately  the  door  was  of  solid  oak, 
and  a  damsel  of  the  queen  had  hastily  shot  the 
bolts. 

"  Alas  1"  cried  the  queen,  >l  wnat  vile  plot  is 
this?  Mischief  is  around  us,  Lancelot  1" 

"  Is  there  any  armor  in  your  chamber  ?"  asked 
Lancelot.  "  If  so,  give  it  to  me,  and  I  will  face 
fhis  malicious  crew." 

"  There  is  none,"  said  the  queen.  "  I  see  no 
hope,  and  fear  our  love  has  come  to  a  fatal  end. 


186  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

There  seems  to  be  a  host  of  armed  knights  with 
oat.  They  will  kill  you,  Lancelot,  and  death  will 
come  to  me  through  their  vile  charge  of  unchas- 
tity." 

"Why  did  [  not  even  wear  as  much  of  my 
armor  as  I  fought  Meliagrance  with!"  cried 
Lancelot,  in  distress.  "  If  I  had  but  listened  to 
Sir  Bors!  Never  was  I  caught  in  such  a  trap 
before." 

As  they  spoke  the  tumult  without  increased, 
and  Mordred  and  Agravaine  cried  together, — 

"  Come  out,  thou  traitor  knight  1  Think  not 
to  escape,  for  we  have  you  like  a  rat  in  a  trap. 
Come  out  and  meet  your  just  deserts." 

"  Shall  I  bear  this  ?"  cried  Lancelot,  flaming 
into  anger.  "  The  dogs  I  a  dozen  of  them  in 
armor  against  one  man  in  his  mantle !  I  would 
rather  meet  death  at  once  than  stand  and  hear 
their  reviling  tongues." 

Then  he  took  the  queen  in  his  arms  and  kissed 
her,  saying,— 

"  Most  noble  Christian  queen,  I  beseech  you,  as 
you  have  ever  been  my  special  good  lady,  and  I 
your  poor  knight,  and  as  I  never  failed  you  in 
right  or  wrong  since  the  day  that  King  Arthur 
made  me  knight,  that  you  will  pray  for  my  soul 
if  I  be  here  slain.  For  you  may  be  sure  that  Sir 
Bors  and  my  other  kindred,  with  Lavaine  and 
others  of  my  friends,  will  rescue  you  from  harm, 
and  I  beg  you  to  go  with  them  and  Irv  e  like  a  queen 
on  my  lands." 


THE   TRAPPING   OF   THE   LION.  187 

"  That  will  I  not,  Lancelot,"  said  the  queen.  "  If 
you  are  slain  for  me,  then  death  may  come  when 
it  will,  for  I  shall  not  live  long  to  mourn  you." 

"  Then,  since  my  last  hour  seems  to  have  come, 
and  our  love  and  life  must  cease  together,  so  let 
it  be;  but  some  of  those  barking  curs  shall  go 
with  me  to  the  shades.  I  am  heavier  at  heart  for 
you  than  for  myself.  Ahl  that  I  had  but  a 
knight's  armor!" 

"  I  would  that  God  would  be  content  with  my 
death,  and  suffer  you  to  escape,"  said  the  queen. 

"That  shall  never  be,"  said  Lancelot.  "God 
defend  me  from  such  a  shame.  And  now  may 
the  Lord  Jesus  be  my  shield  and  my  armor." 

This  said,  he  wrapped  his  mantle  around  his 
arm,  and  approached  the  door.  As  he  did  so  tho 
strong  oaken  portal  trembled  under  their  blows, 
for  they  had  got  a  great  form  out  of  the  hall,  and 
were  using  it  as  a  battering-ram. 

"  Save  your  trouble,  you  crew  of  mischief,"  said 
Lancelot.  "  Think  you  that  Lancelot  du  Lake 
needs  to  be  come  at  like  a  rabbit  in  its  hutch? 
I  fear  you  not,  and  dread  not  to  face  an  army  of 
such  hounds." 

"  Come  out,  then,  or  let  us  into  that  chamber. 
It  avails  you  nothing  to  strive  against  us  all ;  but 
we  will  promise  to  spare  your  life  till  we  have 
brought  you  to  King  Arthur." 

"  Will  you  ?"  said  Lancelot,  "  or  do  you  think  to 
slay  me  where  I  stand  ?  I  trust  you  not,  liars." 

Then  he  unbarred  the  door  and  with  his  left 


188  THE   HAND   OF    DESTINY. 

hand  held  it  open  a  little,  so  that  but  one  man 
could  enter  at  a  time.  As  he  did  so,  Colgre- 
vance  of  Gore,  who  stood  nearest,  pressed  forcibly 
through  the  opening,  and  struck  a  spiteful  blow 
at  Lancelot  with  his  sword.  This  Lancelot  par- 
ried, and  returned  so  fierce  a  stroke  with  his  own 
good  blade,  that  he  cut  through  the  helmet  and 
skull  of  the  knight,  and  stretched  him  dead  upon 
the  floor. 

Then,  with  all  his  great  strength,  he  dragged 
the  bleeding  corpse  within  the  chamber,  closed 
the  door  against  the  pressure  of  all  who  bore 
upon  it,  and  replaced  the  bars.  "So  much  for 
this  daring  fool,"  he  cried.  "  Thank  heaven,  L 
have  an  armor  now !  I  shall  not  be  quite  a  sheep 
at  the  shambles." 

As  he  spoke  he  was  hastily  stripping  the  armor 
from  the  body  of  the  dead  knight.  This  done,  he 
quickly  arrayed  himself  in  it,  with  the  aid  of  the 
queen  and  her  ladies. 

Meanwhile  the  assault  on  the  door  continued, 
and  Mordred  and  Agravaine  kept  up  their  cry, — 

"  Traitor  knight  I  come  out  of  the  queen's  cham- 
ber!" 

"  Hold  your  peace,"  cried  Lancelot.  "  You  shall 
not  prison  me  here,  I  promise  you  that,  and  if 
you  take  my  counsel,  you  will  depart.  I  am  ready 
to  agree  on  my  knighthood  to  appear  to-morrow 
before  the  king,  and  answer  there  that  I  came  not 
to  the  queen  with  any  evil  purpose;  and  this  I 
stand  ready  to  prove  by  word  or  deed." 


THE    TRAPPING    07    THE    LION.  189 

"  Out  on  you,  traitor !"  cried  Mordred.  "  Have 
you,  we  will,  and  slay  you  if  we  wish,  for  the 
king  has  given  us  the  choice  to  save  you  or  slay 
you." 

"  Is  that  your  last  word,  sirrahs  ?  Then  keep 
yourselves,  for  I  am  not  of  the  breed  that  die 
easily." 

As  he  spoke,  he  flung  down  the  bars  and  threw 
the  door  wide  open.  Then  he  strode  proudly  and 
mightily  among  them,  sword  in  hand  and  clad  in 
full  armor,  and  at  the  first  blow  from  his  mighty 
hand  stretched  Agravaine  dead  upon  the  floor. 
Like  a  maddened  lion  that  charges  upon  a  herd 
of  sheep,  he  now  rushed  upon  them,  striking 
fiercely  to  right  and  left,  and  felling  men  with 
every  blow,  till  in  a  little  while  twelve  more  of  his 
assailants  lay  cold  in  death,  for  there  was  not  a 
man  of  them  all  could  stand  one  blow  from  his 
powerful  arm. 

Of  the  whole  party  only  Mordred  remained 
alive,  and  he  fled  wounded  with  craven  haste. 
Then  Lancelot,  leaning  on  his  blood-dripping 
sword,  turned  to  the  queen,  who  stood  looking  at 
his  deeds  of  might,  with  white  lips  and  starting 
eyes. 

"  All  is  at  an  end  now,"  he  said.  "  Henceforth 
King  Arthur  is  my  foe,  and  I  am  like  a  wolf  at 
bay.  Yet  I  fear  your  enemies  will  work  you 
fatal  harm,  and  would  have  you  go  with  me,  and 
let  me  be  your  knight-protector." 

"  That  I  dread  to  do,"  said  the  queen,  "  for  vile 


190  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

slander  would  follow  my  footsteps.  I  had  bettei 
face  my  foes.  If  they  devise  to  put  me  to  death, 
then  you  may  come  to  my  rescue,  and  no  one  then 
can  blame  me  for  going  with  you." 

"That  shall  I  do,"  said  Lancelot.  "And  I 
promise  to  make  such  havoc  among  all  men  who 
mean  you  harm  as  I  have  done  among  those  who 
lie  here." 

Then  he  kissed  her,  and  each  gave  the  other  a 
ring ;  and  so  he  left  the  queen  and  went  to  his 
lodgings. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE   RESCUE   OF  THE   QUEEN. 

LITTLE  sleep  came  that  night  to  Lancelot  and 
his  friends.  For  when  he  came  again  to  Bors,  ho 
had  found  him,  with  others  of  his  kindred,  armed 
and  ready  to  come  to  his  rescue.  They  listened 
with  concern  and  indignation  to  Lancelot's  story 
of  how  he  had  been  entrapped,  and  heard  with 
knightly  joy  the  story  of  his  bold  discomfiture  of 
his  foes. 

But  it  was  evident  to  them  all  that  the  event 
was  one  of  the  greatest  moment;  that  enmity 
would  exist  between  Lancelot  and  the  king,  and 
that  Guenever  might  be  adjudged  to  the  stake  on 
the  charge  of  infidelity  to  her  lord. 

Therefore  Bors  took  it  upon  himself  to  gather 


THE    RESCTTE   OF   THE    QUEEN.  191 

in  Lancelot's  defence  all  his  kindred  and  friends ; 
and  by  seven  o'clock  of  the  next  morning  he  had 
gained  the  word  of  twenty-two  Knights  of  the 
Bound  Table.  To  these  were  added  knights  of 
North  Wales  and  Cornwall,  who  joined  Lancelot 
for  Lamorak's  and  Tristram's  sake,  to  the  number 
of  fourscore. 

To  these  Lancelot  told  all  that  had  occurred, 
and  expressed  his  fear  of  Arthur's  hostility. 

"  I  am  sure  of  mortal  war,"  he  said,  "  for  these 
knights  claimed  to  have  been  sent  and  ordained 
by  King  Arthur  to  betray  me,  and  I  fear  the  king 
may,  in  his  heat  and  malice,  condemn  the  queen 
to  the  fire.  Trust  me,  that  I  will  not  suffer  her 
to  be  burnt  for  my  sake.  She  is  and  has  been 
ever  a  true  lady  to  her  lord,  and  while  I  live  she 
shall  not  become  a  victim  to  the  malice  of  her 
enemies." 

The  assembled  knights  agreed  with  him  in  this 
decision,  and  promised  their  utmost  aid  in  his 
purpose  of  rescue. 

"  Eescue  her  I  shall,  whoever  may  be  hurt ;  and 
I  trust  to  heaven  that  no  friend  of  mine  will  aid 
the  king  to  her  injury.  But  rf  I  rescue  her,  where 
shall  I  keep  her?" 

"Did  not  the  noble  Sir  Tristram,  with  your 
good  will,  keep  La  Belle  Isolde  three  years  in 
Joyous  Gard,  against  the  malice  of  King  Mark  ?" 
said  Bors.  "  That  place  is  your  own  ;  and  there,  if 
the  king  adjudge  the  queen  to  the  stake,  you  may 
keep  her  till  his  heat  shall  cool.  Then  you  may 


192  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

bring  her  home  with  worship,  and  gain  Arthur's 
thanks." 

"  That  may  not  work  so  well  as  you  fancy,' 
said  Lancelot.  "You  remember  what  a  return 
Tristram  got  from  King  Mark." 

"  That  is  another  story,"  replied  Bora.  "  You 
know  well  that  Arthur  and  Mark  are  men  of 
different  mould.  Mark  could  smile  and  play  the 
traitor ;  but  no  man  living  can  say  that  King 
Arthur  was  ever  untrue  to  his  word." 

Their  conference  over,  by  the  advice  of  Lancelot 
the  knights  put  themselves  in  ambush  in  a  wood 
as  near  Carlisle  as  they  could  secretly  approach. 
And  there  they  remained  on  guard,  waiting  to 
learn  what  the  king  might  do. 

Meantime  Mordred,  though  wounded  by  Lance- 
lot's sword,  had  managed  to  mount  his  horse,  and 
rode  in  all  haste  to  tell  the  king  of  the  bloody 
end  of  the  ambush.  On  hearing  the  story, 
Arthur's  mind  was  divided  between  anger  and 
pain. 

"  It  grieves  me  sorely  that  Lancelot  should  be 
against  me,"  he  said  ;  "  and  much  I  fear  that  the 
glorious  fellowship  of  the  Eound  Table  is  broken, 
for  many  of  our  noblest  knights  will  hold  with 
him.  But  dishonor  must  not  rest  upon  England's 
crown.  The  queen  has  played  me  false,  and  shall 
suffer  death  for  her  treason  to  her  wifely  duty." 

For  the  law  was  such  in  those  days,  that  all,  of 
whatever  estate  or  degree,  found  guilty  of  treason, 
should  suffer  death.  And  so  it  was  ordained  in 


THE   RESCUE   OF   THE   QUEEN.  193 

Quoen  Guenever's  case — since  thirteen  knights 
had  been  slain,  and  one  escaped  sore  wounded,  in 
defending  the  king's  honor — that  she  should  be 
taken  to  the  stake,  and  there  be  burnt  to  death  as 
a  traitress. 

"  My  lord  Arthur,"  said  Gawaine,  "  let  me  coun- 
sel you  not  to  be  over  hasty  in  this  severe  judg- 
ment, for  as  I  take  it  the  guilt  of  the  queen  is  not 
proved.  That  Lancelot  was  found  in  the  queen's 
chamber  I  admit ;  but  he  might  have  come  there 
with  no  evil  purpose.  You  know  how  he  has 
been  for  years  her  chosen  knight,  and  how  much 
he  has  done  for  her.  She  may  have  sent  for  him 
privily,  to  avoid  scandal,  for  conference  on  some 
innocent  subject.  What  we  do  for  the  best  often 
turns  to  the  worst,  and  I  dare  affirm  that  my  lady 
the  queen  is,  and  has  always  been,  faithful  and 
true  to  her  lord.  As  for  Lancelot,  I  doubt  me  not 
he  will  make  good  what  I  have  said  with  word  and 
body,  against  any  and  all  that  question  or  oppose." 

"That  I  believe,"  said  the  king.  "I  know 
Lancelot's  way.  But  his  boldness  does  not  prove 
the  queen's  innocence.  For  her  he  shall  never 
fight  again,  for  she  shall  suffer  the  penalty  of  the 
law.  And  if  I  can  lay  my  hands  on  him,  he  shall 
die  the  shameful  death  he  richly  merits." 

"  Then  may  Christ  save  me  from  ever  seeing 
it,"  said  Gawaine. 

"Why  say  you  this?"  demanded  the  king, 
angrily.  "  You  have  no  cause  to  love  him.  Last 
night  he  killed  your  brother  Agravaine,  and  here 
VOL.  III.— i  n  17 


194  TENS   HAND   OP   DESTINY. 

is  Mordred  sorely  wounded.  He  also  slew  two  of 
your  sons,  Sir  Florence  and  Sir  Lovel." 

"  I  know  all  that.  But  I  gave  them  warning 
beforehand  of  what  would  happen  if  they  med- 
dled in  this  affair.  They  brought  this  fate  on 
themselves.  As  for  Agravaine,  he  stirred  up  this 
scandalous  business,  and  has  got  his  deserts." 

"Say  no  more,"  cried  the  king,  in  hot  indig- 
nation. "  I  am  resolved.  The  honor  of  Arthur's 
wife  must  be  above  suspicion.  She  has  fallen 
from  chastity  and  shall  die  the  death.  As  for 
you,  Gawaine,  I  bid  you  arm  in  your  best  armor, 
with  your  brethren  Gareth  and  Gaheris,  and  bring 
her  to  the  fire,  that  she  may  there  hear  her  judg- 
ment, and  receive  the  death  she  merits." 

"  No,  my  most  noble  lord,  that  shall  I  nevei 
do,"  said  Gawaine.  "  No  man  shall  say  that  I  had 
aught  to  do  with  the  death  of  this  worthy  lady, 
or  gave  my  word  in  favor  of  her  death." 

"  Then  bid  your  brothers,  Gareth  and  Gaheris, 
attend." 

"  They  are  young,  and  may  not  withstand  your 
will ;  but  they  shall  not  be  there  by  my  counsel," 
said  Gawaine,  stoutly. 

"  We  must  attend,  if  you  command  us,"  said 
Gareth  and  Gaheris  to  the  king.  "  But  it  will  be 
sorely  against  our  wills.  If  come  we  must,  it  shall 
be  in  peaceful  guise,  and  without  warlike  array." 

"Come  as  you  will,"  said  the  king.  "This  I 
say,  she  shall  have  judgment  this  day." 

"  Alas !  that  I  have  ever  lived  to  see  this  woful 


THB    RESCUE   OF   THE    QUEEN.  195 

day  1"  said  Gawaine,  sadly,  and  as  he  turned  away 
the  tears  ran  hotly  from  his  eyes. 

But  the  king  was  bitterly  set  in  his  deadly  pur- 
pose, and  no  sooner  had  he  reached  Cai  lisle  than 
he  gave  command  that  the  queen  should  at  once 
be  led  to  the  place  of  execution,  there  to  be  burned 
as  a  traitress. 

When  this  fatal  decision  was  known  in  the 
castle  there  was  weeping  and  wailing  and  wring- 
ing of  hands  from  many  lords  and  ladies,  while 
of  the  knights  there  present,  few  would  consent 
to  wear  armor  to  compass  the  queen's  death. 

But  Arthur's  commands  none  dared  question, 
and  the  unhappy  lady  was  shriven  by  her  ghostly 
father,  and  bound  to  the  fatal  stake.  In  a  circle 
around  her  stood  a  guard  of  armed  knights,  while 
others  were  present  without  armor.  But  the  king 
was  not  there ;  nor  would  Gawaine  show  himself 
at  that  shameful  scene. 

Then  fire  was  set  to  the  fagots  that  surrounded 
the  stake.  But  as  the  flames  began  to  curl  up- 
wards there  came  a  shrill  bugle-blast  from  a 
neighboring  wood,  and  of  a  sudden  Lancelot  and 
his  knights  broke  from  their  ambush,  and  rode 
upon  those  about  the  fire,  striking  right  and  left 
at  all  who  bore  arms  and  withstood  them. 

Down  went  the  guard  of  knights  before  this 
fierce  onset,  till  full  twenty  of  them  lay  dead  on 
the  field.  But  by  sad  fortune,  as  Lancelot  in  hie 
warlike  fury  pressed  hither  and  thither,  cutting 
and  slashing  with  the  hot  rage  of  the  berserker, 


196  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

he  by  mishap  struck  the  two  unarmed  knights. 
Gareth  and  Gaheris,  and  stretched  them  dead  upon 
the  field. 

This  was  in  the  thick  of  the  fray,  and  he  knew 
not  what  he  had  done,  for  rather  would  he  have 
slain  himself  than  harmed  these,  his  faithful 
friends.  A  few  minutes  sufficed  to  kill  or  disperse 
all  the  guard.  Then  Lancelot  sprang  from  his 
horse,  scattered  the  blazing  fagots  with  his  foot, 
and  with  a  blow  of  his  sword  severed  the  bonds 
that  fastened  Guenever  to  the  stake. 

The  unhappy  lady  fell,  weeping,  into  his  arms, 
thanking  him  in  broken  accents.  With  all  due 
haste  he  mounted  her  on  a  horse  that  had  been 
provided,  and  rode  off  with  her  and  his  following 
of  gallant  knights  to  Joyous  Gard,  strong  of  heart 
and  stout  of  frame,  and  resolved  to  fight  for  her 
to  the  death,  for  more  than  ever  he  felt  himself 
her  chosen  knight. 

And  when  word  went  through  the  country 
round  that  Arthur  and  Lancelot  were  at  odds, 
many  a  good  knight  rode  in  all  haste  to  his  castle, 
bent  on  taking  his  side  in  the  coming  war. 

But  when  the  news  was  brought  to  Arthur  of 
how  Lancelot  had  rescued  the  queen,  and  slain 
many  of  his  knights,  and  in  particular  Gareth 
and  Gaheris,  his  anger  turned  to  such  bitter  sor- 
row and  regret  that  he  swooned  from  pure  grief. 
And  when  he  came  to  his  senses  again  he  deeply 
moaned,  and  reproached  himself  for  the  evil  that 
had  befallen. 


THE   RESCUE   OF  THE   QUEEN.  197 

"Alas I  that  I  over  wore  the  crown!"  he  be- 
wailed. "  Within  these  two  days  I  have  lost  forty 
knights,  and,  above  all,  the  noble  fellowship  of 
Lancelot  and  his  kindred,  and  all  because  I 
listened  to  the  tongue  of  foul  detraction.  Alas  1 
that  over  this  fatal  thing  began !  Fair  friends,  see 
that  none  of  you  tell  Gawaino  of  what  has  hap- 
pened, for  he  loves  Gareth  so  deeply  that  I  fear, 
when  he  hears  of  his  death,  he  will  go  out  of  his 
mind.  How  came  Lancelot  to  slay  these  knights, 
who  both  loved  him  devotedly?" 

"  He  would  never  have  harmed  them  had  he 
known  them,"  said  a  knight.  "  It  was  in  the  midst 
of  the  hurtling  and  fierce  struggling,  when  swords 
strike  they  know  not  where.  Sad  he  will  be  when 
he  learns  what  he  has  done." 

"  I  am  heavier  for  the  loss  of  my  knights  than 
of  my  queen,"  said  Arthur,  sadly.  "  Other  queens 
may  be  bad,. but  such  a  fellowship  of  knights  can 
never  be  brought  together  again.  And  this  I 
know,  that  when  Gawaine  learns  of  Gareth's  death, 
he  will  never  rest,  nor  suffer  me  to  rest,  till  I  have 
destroyed  Lancelot  and  his  kindred,  or  they  have 
destroyed  me.  Ah,  Agravaine,  Agravaine,  Jesus 
forgive  thy  soul  for  thy  evil  will,  for  thou  and 
thy  brother  Mordred  have  caused  all  this  bitter 
sorrow." 

While  the  king  thus  complained,  a  tale-bearer, 
unheeding  his  injunctions,  came  to  Gawaine  big 
with  his  story,  and  told  him  of  the  rescue  of  the 
queen,  and  the  death  of  a  knightly  host. 
17* 


198  THE   BAND   OF   DESTINY. 

""What  else  could  Lancelot  do?"  said  Gawaine. 
"  I  should  have  done  as  much  myself  had  I  stood 
in  his  place.  But  where  are  my  brothers  ?  Why 
hear  I  not  of  them  ?" 

"  Truly,"  said  the  man  ;  "  they  are  both  killed." 

"  Now,  Jesu  forbid !  What !  both  ?  Is  Gareth 
slain  ?  Dare  you  toll  me  so  ?" 

"  Alas !  the  pity  of  it !" 

"  Killed  !     Who  killed  him  ?" 

"  Sir  Lancelot  slew  them  both." 

"  That  is  false.  Gareth  loved  him  better  than 
hs  did  me  or  the  king.  He  would  have  joined 
him  against  us  all,  had  Lancelot  desired.  And  he 
was  unarmed.  Dare  you  repeat  this  story?"  and 
he  caught  the  man  fiercely  by  the  shoulders  and 
glared  wildly  in  his  face. 

"  Sir,  it  is  so  noised  abroad,"  said  the  man. 

"  Then  is  all  joy  gone  from  my  life,"  moaned 
Gawaine,  and  he  fell  to  the  floor  in  a  deep  swoon, 
in  which  he  lay  long  like  one  dead. 

But  when  Gawaine  recovered,  and  had  sought 
the  king,  and  learned  that  his  two  brothers  had 
been  killed,  unarmed  and  defenceless,  his  sorrow 
changed  to  bitter  and  revengeful  anger. 

"  My  king,  my  lord,  and  my  uncle,"  he  sternly 
said,  "  I  vow  by  my  knighthood  that  I  shall  never 
forgive  Lancelot  for  this  murderous  deed,  but 
from  this  day  forth  shall  remain  his  deadly  foe, 
till  one  of  us  has  slain  the  other.  War  to  the 
death  it  shall  be,  and  if  you  aid  me  not  I  shall 
seek  Sir  Lancelot  alone,  if  it  be  through  seven 


THE  RESCUE  OF  THE  QUEEN.        199 

kings'  realms,  till  I  hold  him  to  answer  for  this 
deed  of  blood." 

"  You  shall  not  need  to  seek  him  so  far,"  said 
the  king.  "  They  eay  that  Lancelot  awaits  us 
in  Joyous  Gard,  and  that  many  kn'ghts  have 
joined  him." 

"  Well  is  it  so,"  said  Gawaine,  fiercely.  "  Then, 
my  lord  Arthur,  gather  your  friends,  and  I  will 
gather  mine.  Say  not  that  deeds  like  this  shall 
go  unpunished  in  England's  realm.  Your  justice 
defied  !  My  unarmed  brothers  murdered !  Shall 
this  bo  done,  and  we  basely  submit  ?" 

"  You  speak  to  the  point,"  said  the  king.  "  We 
must  strike  for  honor  and  revenge.  Strong  as 
Lancelot's  castle  is,  and  bold  as  are  his  friends,  I 
fancy  I  can  gain  strength  enough  to  draw  him  out 
of  the  strongest  tower  in  it." 

Then  King  Arthur  sent  orders  far  and  wide 
through  the  land,  and  in  brief  time  there  came  to 
Carlisle  many  knights,  dukes,  and  earls,  so  that 
he  had  a  great  host.  These  the  king  informed  of 
what  had  happened,  and  of  his  purpose  to  force 
Lancelot  to  yield  up  his  queen,  and  to  punish  him 
for  his  trespass. 

Lancelot,  meanwhile,  was  not  idle,  but  drew  to 
himself  many  more  knights,  and  provisioned  his 
castle  fully,  for  he  well  knew  that  he  must  abide 
behind  walls,  as  he  was  far  too  weak  to  meet  the 
king's  host  in  the  field 

Not  many  days  had  elapsed  when  King  Arthur 
and  Gawaine  with  a  great  host  of  men,  laid  siege 


200  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

about  Joyous  Gard,  both  the  town  and  the  castle, 
and  war  replaced  the  peace  that  had  reigned  BO 
long  in  the  land. 

But  Lancelot  lay  secure  in  his  castle,  and  foi 
a  long  time  would  not  go  out  himself,  nor  suffer 
any  of  his  knights  to  pass  the  gates  of  town  or 
castle.  And  so  fifteen  weeks  of  the  siege  passed 
away. 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE   RETURN   OF   GUENEVEB. 

IT  befell  upon  a  day  in  harvest-time  that  Lan- 
celot looked  over  the  walls  of  Joyous  Gard,  and 
seeing  below  him  the  king  and  Gawaine,  thus 
spoke  to  them, — 

"  My  lords  hoth,  you  besiege  this  castle  in  vain. 
You  will  gain  more  dishonor  than  worship  here. 
If  I  chose  to  come  out,  with  my  knights,  I  should 
soon  bring  this  war  to  an  end." 

"  Come  forth,  if  thou  darest !"  cried  the  king, 
in  anger.  "  I  promise  to  meet  thee  in  the  midst 
of  the  field." 

"God  defend  that  I  should  face  on  the  field  of 
battle  the  noble  king  who  made  me  knight." 

"  A  truce  to  your  fair  language,"  answered  the 
king.  "  Trust  me,  that  I  am  your  mortal  foe,  and 
will  be  so  till  the  day  of  my  death.  You  have  slain 


THB  RETUBN  OF  OUBNIVKl.        201 

my  knights  and  dishonored  my  queen,  and  hold 
her  from  me  by  force,  like  a  traitor.  Think  you 
I  shall  lightly  forgive  this  ?" 

"You  may  say  what  you  will,  my  lord  and 
king,"  answered  Lancelot.  "  "With  you  I  will  not 
fight ;  but  as  for  your  lady  Guenever,  I  am  ready 
to  stand  for  her  innocence  against  any  knight 
under  heaven.  Those  who  have  slandered  me  and 
her  lie  in  their  teeth,  and  I  hold  myself  ready  to 
prove  to  the  death  that  she  is  as  true  and  chaste 
a  lady  as  ever  lived.  More  than  once,  my  lord, 
you  have  consented  that  she  should  be  burnt, 
from  the  voice  of  slander,  and  more  than  once 
have  I  rescued  her,  and  forced  the  lie  down  the 
throats  of  her  slanderers.  Then  you  thanked  me 
for  saving  her  from  the  fire.  Now,  for  doing  you 
the  same  high  service  again,  you  bring  war  upon 
me.  Your  queen  is  honest  and  true,  and  if  you 
will  receive  her  to  your  good  grace  again  I  stand 
ready  to  deliver  her." 

"Kecreant  knight!"  cried  Gawaine,  in  wrath, 
"  I  warrant  you  my  lord  the  king  shall  have  his 
queen  and  you  too,  despite  your  fair  words  and 
proud  defiance,  and  shall  slay  you  both  if  it  please 
him." 

"  That  may  be,  Gawaine,"  said  Lancelot.  "  Yet 
if  I  chose  to  come  out  of  the  castle  you  would  not 
find  it  quite  child's  play  to  win  me  and  the  queen." 

"  Save  your  boastful  words,"  said  Gawaine. 
"  As  for  my  lady,  the  queen,  I  shall  say  naught  to 
ber  dishonor.  But,  recreant  knight,  what  cause 


202  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

had  you  to  slay  my  brother  G-areth,  who  loved 
you  with  his  whole  soul  ?" 

"  I  shall  not  seek  an  excuse  for  that  sad  deed," 
said  Lancelot.  "  I  would  with  as  good  will  have 
slain  my  nephew  Sir  Bors.  All  I  may  say  is 
that  it  was  done  in  the  heat  of  battle,  and  I  knew 
not  they  were  slain  till  word  was  brought  me 
here." 

"  You  lie  in  your  teeth  I"  cried  G-awaine.  "  You 
killed  them  in  despite  of  me ;  and  for  this  foul 
deed  I  shall  make  war  on  you  while  I  live." 

"  If  you  are  so  hotly  set,  there  is  no  use  for  me 
to  seek  accord;  yet  I  am  truly  sorry  for  their 
deaths  and  your  enmity.  Only  for  this  I  would 
soon  have  the  good  grace  of  my  lord  Arthur." 

"  That  may  be,  traitor,  but  you  will  wait  long 
for  peace.  You  have  lorded  it  over  me,  and  the 
whole  of  us,  too  long,  and  slain  knights  at  your 
will.  Now  our  turn  has  come." 

"  No  one  dare  say  that  I  ever  killed  a  knight 
through  treachery,  as  you,  Gawaine,  have  done." 

"  You  mean  Sir  Lamorak.  Him  I  slew,  man  to 
man." 

"  Who  lies  now  ?  You  know  well  that  you  and 
the  crew  that  set  upon  him  dared  not  meet  him 
face  to  face.  You  struck  him  treacherously  from 
behind." 

"  A  truce  to  Lamorak.  This  you  may  know, 
that  I  will  never  leave  you  till  I  deal  with  you  as 
I  did  with  him." 

"  Murder  me,  you  mean !     I  fancy  you  might 


THX  RETURN  OF  QUZNSVIR.        203 

if  you  caught  me  in  such  a  strait,  which  you  will 
not  easily  do." 

Then  others  took  the  cue  from  Gawaine,  and 
the  cry  went  up  from  many  voices :  "  False  and 
recreant  knight !  how  long  will  you  hide  behind 
your  castle  walls,  like  a  rat  in  his  hole  ?" 

"How  long  is  this  to  last?"  said  Bors  and 
others  to  Lancelot.  "  We  pray  you  to  keep  us 
no  longer  within  these  walls,  but  let  us  out  to  do 
battle  with  them.  Men  will  say  next  that  you 
are  afraid.  As  for  fair  speech,  it  is  thrown  away. 
Gawaine  will  never  forgive  you,  nor  suffer  you  to 
make  accord  with  the  king.  Therefore  fight  for 
your  right,  for  to  that  it  must  come." 

"  I  am  loath  to  do  so,"  said  Lancelot. 

Then  he  called  from  the  wall  to  the  king, — 

"  My  knights  demand  that  I  let  them  sally  from 
the  castle.  I  therefore  pray  that  neither  you  nor 
Sir  Gawaine  come  into  the  field,  for  to  you  two  I 
wish  no  harm." 

"  What  then  ?  Shall  we  cower  in  our  tents 
while  others  fight  our  battles?"  cried  Gawaine. 
"  This  quarrel  is  mine  and  the  king's.  Shall  we 
not  fight  in  it  ?" 

"  If  you  will,  you  will ;  but  I  seek  not  battle 
with  either  of  you." 

Then  they  drew  back,  and  both  sides  made 
ready  for  battle.  And  Gawaine,  with  deadly  in- 
tent, set  aside  a  strong  body  of  knights,  bidding 
them  to  attack  Lancelot  in  force,  and  slay  him  if 
they  could. 


204  THE   HAND   OF    DESTINT. 

When  the  next  morning  came,  King  Arthur 
drew  up  his  host  against  the  castle  in  three  great 
bands.  And  Lancelot's  fellowship  issued  from 
the  castle  at  three  gates,  the  three  bands  being  led 
by  Lancelot,  Bors,  and  Lionel.  But  Lancelot  had 
given  strict  charge  to  his  knights  to  avoid  harm- 
ing King  Arthur  and  Sir  Gawaine. 

Fierce  was  the  battle  that  followed,  and  many 
good  knights  were  slain.  It  began  with  a  chal- 
lenge from  Gawaine,  who  came  out  before  the 
king's  host  and  dared  any  knight  of  Lancelot's  to 
joust  with  him.  This  challenge  Lionel  accepted, 
but  Gawaine  thrust  him  through  the  body,  and 
dashed  him  to  the  earth  like  a  dead  man.  Then 
his  friends  rushed  to  his  rescue  and  drove  back 
his  foes,  bearing  him  from  the  field  into  the  castle. 
This  affray  brought  on  a  hot  and  fiery  battle,  and 
soon  the  air  was  filled  with  shouts,  and  the  earth 
strewn  with  dead  and  wounded  men. 

In  the  midst  of  this  fi*ay  the  king  hotly  attacked 
Lancelot ;  but  that  faithful  knight  patiently  en- 
dured his  assault,  and  lifted  not  a  hand  in  defence. 
But  Bors,  seeing  his  danger,  rushed  in,  and,  with 
a  spear-thrust,  hurled  King  Arthur  to  the  ground. 
Quickly  leaping  from  his  horse,  he  drew  his  sword, 
and  said, — 

"  Shall  I  make  an  end  of  this  war  ?" 

"  On  pain  of  your  head,  no !  Harm  not  the 
king !  I  shall  not  stand  by  and  see  him  slain." 

Then  Lancelot  sprang  to  the  ground  and  helped 
the  king  to  his  horse  again,  saying, — 


THE  RETURN  OF  OUENEVER.        205 

"My  lord  Arthur,  for  God's  sake,  end  this 
strife  I  I  will  not  fight  you,  though  you  kill  me, 
nor  have  I  the  heart  to  fight  your  men.  My  lord, 
remember  what  I  have  done  for  you.  Is  not  this 
an  evil  reward  ?" 

When  Arthur  heard  these  words  tears  flowed 
from  his  eyes,  for  Lancelot's  courtesy  had  over- 
come his  anger.  He  turned  and  rode  away,  saying 
sadly, — 

"  Alas  I  that  this  war  ever  began." 

Then  both  sides  drew  off,  and  parties  of  each 
began  the  sad  duty  of  burying  the  dead,  while  the 
wounded  were  borne  away,  and  healing  salves 
applied  to  their  wounds. 

The  next  day  the  battle  was  renewed,  and 
fought  with  the  same  deadly  energy  as  before. 
On  this  day  Bors  led  the  foremost  party,  and  met 
Gawaine  as  Lionel  had  done  the  day  before. 
Fiercely  together  they  rode,  and  both  were  hurled 
to  the  ground  with  deep  and  dangerous  wounds. 
Around  them  the  battle  raged  with  double  fierce- 
ness, but  Lancelot  broke  in  and  rescued  Bors,  and 
had  him  borne  to  the  castle,  while  the  other  party 
bore  off  Gawaine. 

Then,  as  the  battle  continued,  Lavaine  and 
others  begged  Lancelot  to  put  forth  his  strength 
and  fight  with  his  full  might,  for  he  imperilled 
them  all  by  his  forbearance. 

"  Why  should  you  spare  your  foes?"  they  said. 
"  You  do  but  harm  thereby.  Your  enemies  spare 
not  vou." 


206  THI   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

"  I  have  no  heart  to  fight  against  the  king,"  said 
Lancelot. 

"  If  you  spare  them  all  this  day  they  will  never 
thank  you,"  said  Palamides.  "  And  if  they  get 
the  better  of  you  they  will  slay  you  without 
mercy." 

Lancelot  saw  that  this  was  but  the  truth,  and, 
stirred  by  this  and  the  wound  of  Sir  Bors,  he 
rushed  into  the  fray  with  his  old  might  and  fury, 
forcing  back  all  before  him.  Glad  to  see  the  old 
Lancelot,  his  followers  pressed  forward,  driving 
back  the  foe,  so  that  by  eventide  they  had  the 
best  of  the  fray,  and  their  horses  went  fetlock 
deep  in  the  blood  of  the  slain. 

Then,  in  pity  for  Arthur,  Lancelot  blew  the 
recall,  and  suffered  the  king's  party  to  withdraw 
without  further  slaughter. 

After  this  there  was  peace  between  the  parties 
for  many  days,  for  Gawaine  had  been  so  sorel> 
hurt  that  he  could  not  stir  the  king  to  active  war, 
and  Arthur  after  awhile  returned  to  Carlisle,  leav- 
ing the  castle  closely  besieged. 

But  the  story  of  this  war  had  now  passed 
through  Christendom,  and  ha'  reached  the  pope, 
who,  feeling  that  war  between  King  Arthur  and 
Lancelot  was  like  battle  between  brothers,  sent 
a  letter  to  the  king,  commanding  him,  under 
pain  of  an  interdict  upon  all  England,  to  take  his 
Queen  Guenever  into  favor  again,  and  to  make 
peace  and  accord  with  Sir  Lancelot. 

This  Papal  bull  was  brought  to  Arthur  by  the 


THE   RETURN   OF   GTTENXYER.  207 

biehop  of  Rochester,  who  was  then  at  Rome. 
"When  the  king  had  heard  it  read  he  knew  not 
what  to  do.  He  agreed  to  take  back  the  queen, 
and  in  his  heart  desired  to  make  friends  with 
Lancelot ;  but  to  this  Gawaine,  who  had  then  the 
greatest  influence  over  him,  would  not  consent. 

In  the  end  it  was  agreed  that  if  Lancelot  would 
bring  back  the  queen  be  should  come  and  go  in 
safety,  and  that  no  word  should  be  spoken  to 
Guenever,  by  the  king  or  other  person,  of  aught 
that  hud  happened  in  the  past. 

Then  the  bishop  had  from  the  king  his  assur- 
ance, under  the  great  seal  of  the  realm,  as  he  was 
a  true  anointed  knight,  that  Sir  Lancelot  should 
come  and  return  in  safety,  and  that  the  queen 
should  not  be  spoken  to  by  the  king,  or  any  other, 
concerning  what  had  passed.  With  this  safe-con- 
duct, written  at  length  and  signed  by  King  Arthur, 
the  holy  prelate  rode  in  state  to  Joyous  Gard, 
where  he  made  Lancelot  acquainted  with  all  that 
had  happened,  telling  him  of  the  pope's  action,  and 
of  the  peril  he  would  encounter  if  he  withheld 
the  queen  from  the  king. 

"It  was  never  in  my  thought,"  said  Lance: 
lot,  "  to  withhold  Queen  Guenever  from  my  lord 
Arthur.  All  men  know  why  I  have  her  in  charge. 
She  would  have  suffered  a  shameful  death  through 
the  king's  unjust  anger  had  I  not  been  on  hand  to 
save  her  life ;  and  I  hold  her  only  from  peril  of 
that  ^ile  sentence,  which  has  never  until  now  been 
remitted.  I  thank  the  pope  heartily  that  he  has 


208  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

made  peace  between  Guenever  and  the  king,  and 
God  knows  that  I  will  be  a  thousand-fold  gladder 
to  take  her  back  than  I  ever  was  to  bring  her 
away.  All  I  demand  is,  that  I  shall  come  and  go 
in  safety,  and  that  the  queen  shall  have  her  liberty 
as  before,  and  stand  in  no  peril  from  this  or  any 
former  charge  against  her.  For  else  I  dare  ven- 
ture to  keep  her  from  a  harder  shower  than  ever 
yet  has  fallen  upon  her  or  mo." 

"  You  need  dread  nothing  either  for  yourself  or 
the  queen,"  replied  the  bishop.  "  You  know  full 
well  that  the  pope  must  be  obeyed,  by  the  king 
as  well  as  by  you.  It  were  not  to  the  pope's 
worship  nor  my  poor  honor  that  you  shouM  be 
distressed,  or  the  queen  put  to  shame  or  peril. 
And  as  for  King  Arthur,  here  is  his  promise,  under 
his  own  writing  and  seal." 

Then  he  showed  Lancelot  all  the  written  docu- 
ments he  had  brought,  both  from  the  pope  and  the 
king. 

"  That  suffices,"  said  Lancelot.  "  I  would  trust 
King  Arthur's  bare  word  as  I  would  the  oath  of 
half  Christendom.  No  man  can  say  that  he  ever 
broke  his  plighted  faith.  Therefore,  I  beg  you  to 
ride  before  me  to  the  king,  and  recommend  me  to 
his  good  grace,  letting  him  know  that  in  eight  days 
from  to-day,  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  shall  bring  to 
him  his  lady  Queen  Guenever.  And  say  this  far- 
ther to  him,  that  I  stand  ready  to  meet  any  one  in 
the  lists  for  the  queen's  fair  fame  except  himself 
and  Sir  Gawaine.  and  the  latter  more  from  the 


THE  RETURN  OF  GUENEVER.        209 

king's  love  for  him  than  from  aught  of  his  own 
deserts." 

With  this  agreement  the  bishop  departed  to 
Carlisle,  and  when  he  had  told  the  king  how 
nobly  Lancelot  had  spoken,  the  tears  started  from 
Arthur's  eyes,  and  much  he  deplored  in  his  heart 
the  cruel  chance  that  had  aroused  war  between 
him  and  his  dearest  friend. 

Lancelot  now  made  ready  a  hundred  knights, 
who  were  all  dressed  in  green  velvet,  with  their 
horses  trapped  to  their  heels,  while  each  knight 
held  in  his  hand  an  olive  branch,  in  token  of 
peace.  For  the  queen  there  were  provided  four 
and  twenty  gentlewomen,  who  followed  her  in  the 
same  guise ;  while  Lancelot  was  followed  by  twelve 
coursers,  on  each  of  which  sat  a  young  gentleman, 
and  these  were  arrayed  in  green  velvet  with  golden 
girdles,  and  the  horses  trapped  to  the  heels  with 
rich  cloths,  set  with  pearls  and  stones  in  gold,  to 
the  number  of  a  thousand.  As  for  Lancelot  and 
Guenever,  they  were  clothed  in  white  cloth-of- 
gold  tissue.  And  in  this  array  they  rode  from 
Joyous  Gard  to  Carlisle,  and  through  Carlisle  to 
the  r.astle,  while  many  an  eye  shed  tears  on  seeing 
them. 

Then  Lancelot  alighted  and  took  the  queen,  and 
led  hor  to  where  Arthur  sat,  with  Gawaine  and 
many  great  lords  before  him.  Then  he  kneeled, 
and  the  queen  with  him. 

Many  of  the  assembled  knights  wept  bitterly 
on  seeing  this,  but  the  king  sat  in  haughty  silence, 
VOL.  III.— o  18* 


210  THE   HAND   OF   DI8TINT. 

looking  steadily  upon  the  pair  who  knelt  before 
him.  Seeing  his  countenance,  Lancelot  rose  and 
forced  the  queen  to  rise  also.  Then  thus  he  spoke 
in  knightly  pride, — 

"  My  lord  the  king,  by  the  pope's  command  and 
yours  I  have  brought  you  my  lady,  the  queen,  as 
right  requireth.  If  there  be  any  knight,  whatever 
his  degree,  except  your  sacred  self,  who  shall  dare 
say  she  has  been  untrue  to  you,  I,  Lancelot  du 
Lake,  stand  ready  to  make  her  honor  good  with 
my  body.  To  liars  you  have  listened,  and  that 
has  caused  all  the  trouble  between  you  and  me. 
Time  has  been,  my  lord  Arthur,  when  you  have 
been  greatly  pleased  with  me  in  that  I  did  battle 
for  my  lady  your  queen.  Full  well  you  know,  my 
most  royal  sir,  that  she  has  been  put  to  great 
wrong  before  this  time ;  and  since  it  pleased  you 
then  that  I  should  fight  for  her,  it  seems  to  me 
that  I  had  still  more  cause  this  last  time  to  rescue 
her  from  the  fire,  since  she  was  to  have  been  burnt 
for  my  sake.  Had  not  the  might  of  God  been 
with  me,  think  you  that  I  could,  unarmed,  have 
prevailed  over  fourteen  armed  knights  ?  I  was 
sent  for  by  the  queen,  who  wished  to  confer  with 
me,  but  had  barely  stepped  within  her  chamber, 
when  out  burst  Mordred  and  Agravaine,  calling 
mo  traitor  and  recreant  knight." 

"  They  called  you  truly,"  said  Gawaine. 

"  Did  they  so,  Gawaine  ?  By  heaven,  in  their 
quarrel  they  failed  to  prove  themselves  in  the 
right." 


THE   RETURN   OF   GHTZNEVER.  211 

"  I  have  given  you  no  cause  to  do  evil  to  me, 
Lancelot,"  said  the  king.  "  For  I  have  loved  you 
and  yours  more  than  all  my  other  knights." 

"  My  good  lord  and  liege,"  answered  Lancelot, 
"  I  beg  it  may  not  displease  you  if  I  answer  that 
you  have  better  cause  to  love  me  and  mine  than 
most  knights,  for  none  have  done  you  such  service 
as  wo  have  at  many  times  and  in  many  places. 
Often  have  I  myself  rescued  you  from  deadly 
peril,  when  you  were  hard  pressed  by  your  foes  ; 
and  it  has  ever  been  my  joy  to  please  you,  and  my 
lord  Gawaine  as  well,  in  jousts  and  tournaments, 
and  in  set  battles,  both  on  horse  and  on  foot.  I 
wish  not  to  boast  of  my  deeds,  yet  you  all  know 
well  that  I  never  met  a  knight  but  that  I  was  able 
to  stand  against  him,  and  have  always  done  my 
duty  like  a  man.  I  have  been  matched  with  good 
knights,  such  as  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Lamorak, 
whom  I  loved  for  their  valor  and  honesty.  And  I 
take  God  to  witness,  that  I  was  never  angry  with 
or  jealous  of  any  good  knight  whom  I  saw  active 
to  win  honor,  and  was  ever  glad  at  heart  when  I 
found  a  knight  who  was  able  to  endure  me  on 
horseback  or  on  foot.  Sir  Carados  of  the  dolorous 
tower  was  a  noble  knight  and  a  man  of  mighty 
strength,  and  this  you  know  full  well,  Sir  Gawaine, 
since  he  pulled  you  from  your  horse,  and  bound 
you  before  him  on  his  saddle.  Yet  I  rescued  you 
from  him,  and  slew  him  before  your  eyes.  In  like 
manner  I  found  his  brother,  Sir  Turquine,  leading 
your  brother,  SirGaheris,  bound  on  his  saddle,  and 


212  THZ   HAND   OF   DWBTINY. 

slew  him,  and  rescued  your  brother,  as  also  three- 
score  and  four  of  King  Arthur's  knights  whom  he 
held  in  prison.  Never  met  I  with  as  strong  and 
hard-fighting  knights  as  Sir  Carados  and  Sir  Tur- 
quine,  and  I  fought  with  them  to  the  uttermost  for 
the  sake  of  you  and  your  brother.  It  seems  to 
me,  Sir  Gawaine,  that  you  ought  to  bear  in  mind 
this  good  service  I  did  for  you  in  the  past.  If  I 
might  but  have  your  good  will  in  return,  I  would 
trust  to  God  to  have  my  lord  Arthur's  kindly 
grace." 

"  The  king  may  do  as  he  will,"  said  Gawaine ; 
"  but  while  I  live  I  shall  never  be  in  accord  with 
you.  I  cannot  forget  that  you  have  killed  three 
of  my  brothers,  two  of  them  treacherously  ana 
pitilessly,  for  they  wore  no  armor  against  you,  and 
refused  to  bear  any." 

"  Would  to  heaven  they  had  been  armed,  for 
then  they  would  now  be  alive,"  said  Lancelot. 
"  I  tell  you  this,  Sir  Gawaine,  that  I  love  none  of 
my  own  kinsmen  as  I  did  your  brother,  SirGareth, 
and  would  far  rather  have  slain  myself  than  him. 
Never  while  I  live  shall  I  cease  to  mourn  his 
death,  not  alone  for  your  bitter  sorrow  and  anger, 
but  for  other  causes  which  concern  myself.  One 
is,  that  it  was  I  who  made  him  a  knight ;  another 
is,  that  he  loved  me  above  all  other  knights ;  a 
third  is,  that  he  was  ever  noble,  true,  courteous, 
and  gentle.  I  never  would  have  slain,  or  even 
hurt,  either  Gareth  or  Gaheris  by  my  will ;  and 
sad  at  heart  am  I  that  this  fatal  chance  has 


THE   RETUBN   OF   GKJENEVER.  213 

robbed  me  of  your  love  and  made  undying  war  be- 
tween  us,  and  has  caused  my  noble  lord  and  king 
to  be  my  mortal  foe.  May  Jesus  forgive  me  for 
this  cruel  chance,  which  the  fates  have  laid  upon 
me.  In  reparation  for  this  sad  misfortune,  I  shall 
freely  offer,  if  it  will  please  the  king's  good 
grace,  and  yours,  my  lord  Gawaine,  to  do  pen- 
ance in  this  wise.  I  shall  start  from  Sandwich, 
and  go  in  my  shirt,  barefoot,  and  at  every  ten 
miles'  end  I  ohall  found  a  religious  house,  of  what 
order  you  wish,  where  shall  be  sung  and  read  day 
and  night  psalms  and  masses  for  the  repose  of 
Sir  Gareth  and  Sir  Gaheris.  This  I  shall  perform 
from  Sandwich  to  Carlisle.  This,  Sir  Gawaine, 
seems  to  me  fairer,  holier,  and  better  for  their 
souls  than  that  you  and  the  king  should  make  war 
upon  me ;  for  little  good  to  any  is  likely  to  come 
from  it." 

Then  the  knights  and  ladies  there  wept  as 
though  they  were  distracted,  and  the  tears  fell  hot 
on  King  Arthur's  cheeks.  But  no  shadow  of  soft- 
ness came  to  Gawaine's  stern  face. 

"  The  king,  as  I  have  said,  may  do  as  it  pleases 
him,"  he  answered,  "  but  I  shall  never  forgive  you 
for  the  murder  of  my  brothers.  If  my  uncle,  King 
Arthur,  accords  with  you,  he  shall  lose  my  service, 
for  I  hold  you  false  both  to  the  king  and  me." 

"  The  man  lives  not  that  can  make  that  good," 
cried  Lancelot.  "  If  you  charge  me  thus,  I  am 
ready  to  answer  you  with  spear  and  sw  rd  since 
words  you  disdain." 


214  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

"That  cannot  be  at  this  time,"  said  Gawainc 
'•*'  You  are  here  under  the  king's  safe-conduct,  aud 
so  must  depart.  If  it  were  not  for  the  pope's 
command  and  the  king's  given  word,  I  should  do 
battle  with  you,  body  to  body,  and  prove  upon 
you  that  you  have  been  false  both  to  the  king  and 
to  me.  In  this  land  you  shall  not  abide  more 
than  fifteen  days,  for  I  give  you  open  warning 
that  your  safe-conduct  lasts  only  for  that  time. 
In  this  the  king  and  we  all  were  agreed  before 
you  came  hither.  Only  for  this  you  would  now 
find  that  my  words  are  ready  to  be  backed  up 
with  deeds.  And  this  you  shall  find  wheresoever 
I  shall  meet  you  hereafter." 

Then  Lancelot  sighed,  and  tears  fell  upon  his 
cheeks. 

"  Alas,  most  Christian  realm,"  he  said,  "  that  I 
have  loved  above  all  other  realms,  and  most 
Christian  king,  whom  I  have  worshipped  next  to. 
my  God.  From  both  I  am  banished,  without 
cause  or  warrant.  Truly  I  am  sorry  that  I  ever 
came  into  this  land,  to  be  thus  causelessly  and 
shamefully  treated,  after  my  long  service  here. 
So  is  it  ever  with  fortune,  whose  wheel  is  so 
changeable  that  there  is  no  constant  abiding ;  and 
this  may  be  proved  by  the  old  chronicles  of  noble 
Hector  of  Troy,  and  Troilus,  and  Alexander  the 
mighty  conqueror,  and  many  more.  "When  they 
were  highest  they  quickly  became  lowest;  and 
thus  has  it  fared  with  me.  No  living  men  have 
brought  more  honor  and  glory  to  the  Bound  Table 


THE  RETURN  OF  QUENEVER.        215 

than  I  and  my  kindred,  and  yet  we  stand  banished 
from  the  land  which  owes  us  such  worthy  ser 
vice.  As  for  you,  Gawaine,  I  can  live  upon  my 
native  lands  as  well  as  any  knight  here.  And  if 
you,  redoubted  king,  shall  seek  me  there  in  hostile 
array,  I  must  endure  you  as  well  as  I  may.  If 
you  come  thither,  Gawaine,  see  that  you  charge 
ine  not  with  treason  or  felony,  for  if  you  do,  it 
will  scarcely  end  with  words." 

"  Do  your  worst,"  cried  Gawaine,  hotly.  "  And 
get  you  gone  from  here  as  fast  as  you  can.  "We 
shall  soon  come  after,  and  tumble  your  strongest 
castle  upon  your  head." 

"  That  shall  not  need,"  said  Lancelot.  "  You 
may  find  me  ready  to  meet  you  in  open  field." 

"  There  have  been  words  enough,"  said  Gawaine. 
"  Deliver  the  queen  and  take  yourself  away." 

"  If  I  had  looked  for  so  short  a  reception  I  would 
have  thought  twice  before  coming,"  answered 
Lancelot,  proudly.  "  If  the  queen  had  been  as 
dear  to  me  as  you  would  make  her,  I  durst  have 
kept  her  from  the  best  fellowship  of  knights 
under  heaven." 

Then  he  turned  to  Guenever  and  said,  in  full 
hearing  of  the  king  and  all  there, — 

"  Madam,  now  I  must  depart  from  you  and  this 
noble  fellowship  forever.  Since  it  is  so,  I  beseech 
you  to  pray  for  me.  And  if  you  be  slandered  by 
any  false  tongues,  send  me  word,  my  lady,  and 
if  one  knight's  hands  may  deliver  you  by  battle, 
T  shall  deliver  you  " 


216  THE   HAND   OP   DESTINY. 

Then  Lancelot  kissed  the  queen,  and  said  openly 
to  all  present, — 

"  Now  let  me  see  who  there  is  in  this  place  that 
dare  say  Queen  Guenever  is  not  true  unto  my  lord 
King  Arthur !  Lot  him  speak  who  dare  speak." 

He  looked  proudly  around  the  hall,  from  right 
to  left,  but  no  voice  came  in  answer.  Then  he 
took  the  queen  by  the  hand  and  led  her  to  the 
king,  and  delivered  her  to  his  royal  hand.  This 
done,  Lancelot  turned  and  walked  from  the  hall 
with  haughty  stride ;  and  there  was  neither  duke, 
earl,  nor  king,  baron  nor  knight,  lady  nor  maiden, 
that  wept  not  at  the  sorrowful  parting,  except 
Sir  Gawaine.  And  when  Lancelot  took  his  horse 
to  ride  out  of  Carlisle  there  was  sobbing  and 
weeping  from  all  the  people  who  had  gathered  in 
the  streets  to  see  him  depart.  And  so  he  took  his 
way  to  Joyous  Gard,  which  ever  after  he  called 
Dolorous  Gard.  And  thus  departed  Sir  Lancelot 
du  Lake  from  the  court  of  King  Arthur  forever. 

He  now  called  his  fellowship  about  him,  and 
asked  them  what  they  would  do. 

"  Whatever  you  will,"  they  answered  with  one 
voice. 

"  Then,  my  brave  and  faithful  friends,  we  must 
leave  this  realm.  It  is  sore  to  me  to  be  banished, 
and  had  I  not  dreaded  shame,  the  lady  Guenever 
should  never  have  left  me." 

"  If  you  stay  in  this  land  we  shall  not  fail  you," 
said  his  knights.  "  If  you  depart  hence  we  shall 
go  with  you." 


THE  RETURN  OF  QUENEVER.        217 

"  My  fair  lords,  I  thank  you  heartily,"  answered 
Lancelot,  with  much  feeling.  "  If  you  come  with 
me  to  my  realm  beyond  the  sea,  I  shall  divide  my 
lands  among  you,  till  I  have  as  little  as  any  of  you. 
I  care  for  only  enough  to  live  upon,  and  trust  to 
maintain  you  in  knightly  honor." 

"  So  let  it  be,"  they  rejoined.  "  Here,  now  that 
the  fellowship  of  the  Bound  Table  is  broken,  there 
will  be  no  more  peace,  but  only  strife  and  tur- 
moil. You  were  the  stay  of  Arthur's  court,  Sir 
Lancelot.  With  you  gone,  all  quiet  and  harmony 
will  depart." 

"  You  praise  me  too  highly,  gentlemen.  I  did 
my  duty ;  but  not  I  alone.  Yet  I  fear,  when  we 
are  gone,  we  will  soon  hear  of  wars  and  rebellions, 
from  those  who  dared  not  raise  their  heads  when 
we  were  all  together.  Mordred  I  fear  above  all. 
He  is  envious  and  ambitious,  and  if  King  Arthur 
shall  trust  him  I  dread  me  greatly  he  will  find 
him  a  stinging  serpent." 

Then,  soon  after,  they  left  Joyous  Gard,  and 
shipped  at  Cardiff  to  pass  beyond  the  seas  to 
Lancelot's  realm  of  Ben  wick.  Some  men,  indeed, 
call  it  Bayonno,  and  some  call  it  Bourne,  the  land 
whence  comes  the  wine  of  Beume.  Yet  to  say 
sooth,  Lancelot  and  his  nephews  were  lords  of 
all  France,  and  had  there  a  host  of  towns  ard 
castles,  and  many  people  at  their  command. 

There  went  with  him  a  hundred  proven  knights, 
whom  he  rewarded  as  he  had  promised.  For  he 
shortly  called  a  parliament,  where  he  crowned 


218  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

Lionel  king  of  France.  Bore  he  made  king  of 
the  realm  of  King  Claudas ;  and  Hector  de  Marie, 
King  of  Benwick  and  Guienne ;  while  his  other 
knights  were  made  dukes  and  earls,  till  all  were 
nobly  provided  for. 

Thus  Lancelot  rewarded  his  faithful  friends 
And  he  furnished  and  provisioned  his  towns  and 
castles,  and  gathered  the  men  of  war  of  the  realm, 
for  he  felt  well  assured  that  Gawaine  would  not 
rent  till  he  had  brought  King  Arthur  against  him 
in  martial  array. 


CHAPTEE  IV. 

THE   WAR   BETWEEN   ARTHUR  AND   LANCELOT, 

WHAT  Lancelot  had  feared  came  quickly  to 
pass.  For  so  unrelenting  was  Gawaine's  enmity, 
and  so  strong  his  influence  over  the  king,  that 
Arthur,  at  his  persistent  instigation,  got  together 
a  great  army,  to  the  number  of  sixty  thousand, 
and  had  shipping  made  ready  to  carry  them  over 
the  sea. 

Then  ho  made  Sir  Mordred  chief  ruler  of  all 
England  during  his  absence,  and  put  Queen 
Guenever  under  his  care,  little  dreaming  of  what 
fatal  results  would  follow  this  unwise  choice. 

These  preparations  made,  Arthur  passed  the 
sea  with  his  host,  and  landed  in  Lancelot's  realm, 


TH»   WAR    BETWEEN   AETHUB   AND    LANCELOT.      219 

where,  through  the  revengeful  spirit  of  Gawaine, 
they  burnt  and  wasted  all  that  they  overran. 

When  word  of  this  was  brought  to  Lancelot 
and  his  knights,  Sir  Bors  thus  broke  out  in 
anger,— 

"  My  lord  Sir  Lancelot,  it  is  a  shame  to  let  them 
thus  destroy  this  fair  realm  of  France.  You  may 
well  be  assured  that,  however  long  you  forbear 
your  foes,  they  will  do  you  no  favor  if  you  fall 
into  their  hands." 

Then  said  Sir  Lionel,  who  was  wary  and  wise, 
"  My  lord  Sir  Lancelot,  this  is  my  counsel.  Let 
us  keep  to  our  strong-walled  towns  till  the  in- 
vaders suffer  from  hunger  and  cold,  and  blow  upon 
their  nails  for  warmth.  Then  we  may  freshly  set 
upon  them,  and  shred  them  down  like  sheep  in  a 
field." 

"Such  a  course  would  disgrace  us  all,"  said 
King  Bagdemagus  to  Lancelot.  "  Your  over-cour- 
tesy has  caused  all  the  trouble  we  now  have.  If 
we  let  Gawaine  work  his  will,  he  will  bring  our 
power  to  naught,  while  we  hide  like  rabbits  in  our 
holes." 

"  So  say  I,"  broke  in  Sir  Galihud.  "  There  are 
knights  here  who  come  of  kings'  blood,  and  that 
will  not  long  be  content  to  droop  behind  walls. 
Give  us  leave  to  meet  them  in  the  field,  and  we 
shall  deal  with  them  in  such  fashion  that  they  will 
curse  the  time  they  came  into  this  country." 

Then  spoke  seven  brethren  of  North  Wales,  men 
of  such  prowess  that  one  might  seek  through 


220  THE    HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

seven  lands  before  he  could  find  seven  such 
knights, — 

"  Sir  Lancelot,"  they  said  together,  "  lot  us  ride 
out  with  Sir  Galihud,  for  it  has  never  been  our 
wont  to  cower  in  towns  and  castles." 

"  My  fair  lords,"  replied  Lancelot  to  them  all, 
"  I  am  loath  to  ride  out  with  my  knights  and  shed 
Christian  blood.  And  my  lands,  after  all  the  wars 
they  have  endured,  are  too  bare  long  to  sustain 
this  invading  host.  It  is  the  part  of  wisdom, 
therefore,  for  the  time  to  keep  to  our  walls,  and 
meanwhile  I  will  send  a  messenger  to  King  Arthur 
and  offer  him  a  treaty  of  peace." 

Then  he  sent  a  damsel  to  the  king,  and  a  dwarf 
with  her,  with  a  message,  bidding  Arthur  to  quit 
making  war  upon  his  lands,  and  offering  him  fair 
terms  of  accommodation.  The  damsel  rode  to 
the  hostile  camp  on  a  palfry,  while  the  dwarf  ran 
by  her  side.  When  she  came  near  to  King  Arthur's 
pavilion  she  alighted,  and  there  was  met  by  a 
gentle  knight,  Sir  Lucan  the  butler,  who  said, — 

"  Fair  damsel,  come  you  from  Sir  Lancelot  du 
Lake?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  she  replied,  "  I  am  come  hither  with 
a  message  from  him  to  my  lord  the  king." 

"  Alas,  that  it  should  be  needed !"  said  Sir  Lucan. 
"  My  lord  Arthur  would  soon  be  in  accord  with 
Lancelot  but  for  Gawaine,  who  has  more  influence 
over  him  than  all  his  knights  besides,  and  will  not 
suffer  him  to  think  of  peace  and  friendship.  I 
pray  to  God,  damsel,  that  you  speed  well  in  your 


THE   WAE   BETWEEN    ARTHUB   AND  LANCELOT.      221 

errand,  for  all  that  are  about  the  king,  except  Sir 
Gawaine,  wish  well  to  Lancelot  above  all  knights 
living." 

With  these  words  he  led  the  damsel  to  the 
king's  pavilion.  There  Arthur,  who  had  been 
advised  of  her  coming,  sat  with  Gawaine  to  hear 
her  message.  When  she  had  told  her  errand  the 
king  was  so  moved  that  tears  ran  from  his  eyes, 
and  all  the  lords  were  ready  to  advise  him  to  make 
peace  with  Lancelot.  But  Gawaine,  who  sat  with 
lowering  brow,  now  broke  out  in  hot  speech, — 

"  My  lord,  my  uncle,  what  will  you  do  ?  Will 
you  turn  again  after  having  come  so  far?  All 
the  world  will  speak  villany  of  you." 

"I  do  not  deem  it  wise  to  refuse  his  fail 
proffers,"  said  the  king.  "  Yet  since  I  am  come 
so  far  on  this  journey,  I  leave  it  to  you  to  give  the 
damsel  her  answer." 

"  Then  tell  Sir  Lancelot,"  said  Gawaine  to  the 
damsel,  "  that  he  wastes  his  labor  now  to  sue  to 
my  uncle.  If  he  wished  peace  he  should  have 
sought  it  sooner.  Now  it  is  too  late.  Tell  him, 
also,  that  I,  Sir  Gawaine,  promise  him,  by  the 
faith  I  owe  to  God  and  to  knighthood,  never  to 
leave  him  in  peace  till  he  have  slain  me  or  I  him." 

This  word  the  damsel  brought  back  to  Lancelot, 
where  he  stood  among  his  knights,  and  sad  of 
heart  he  was  to  hear  it. 

"  Why  do  you  grieve  ?"  said  the  knights.     "  If 
war  they  want,  let  them  have  it  to  their  fill.    Let 
us  meet  them  in  the  field." 
19* 


122  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINT. 

"  Never  before  was  I  so  loath  to  do  battle,"  said 
Lancelot.  "  I  would  rather  flee  from  King  Arthur 
than  fight  him.  Be  ruled  by  me,  noble  sirs.  When 
I  must  defend  myself,  then  I  will ;  but  haste  will 
make  fresh  sorrow." 

Then  the  knights  held  their  peace,  and  that 
night  took  their  rest.  But  in  the  morning,  when 
they  looked  abroad,  they  saw  a  hostile  host  around 
the  city  of  Ben  wick,  pressing  it  so  closely  that  lad- 
ders were  already  set  up  against  the  walls.  The 
defenders  of  the  town  flocked  in  haste  to  the  walls 
and  threw  down  the  ladders,  and  hot  strife  began. 

Forth  now  rode  Sir  Grawaine  on  a  strong  steed, 
Mid  with  a  great  spear  in  his  hand,  and  when  he 
came  before  the  chief  gate  he  called  out  loudly, — 

"  Sir  Lancelot,  where  art  thou  ?  Or  what  proud 
knight  is  here  that  dare  break  a  spear  with 
me?" 

Hearing  this  challenge,  Sir  Bors  hastily  made 
ready,  and  rode  from  the  city  to  the  encounter. 
But  Grawaine  smote  him  from  his  horse,  and  would 
have  slain  him  had  he  not  been  rescued.  Then 
Lionel,  his  brother,  rode  out  to  revenge  him ;  but 
he,  too,  was  sorely  wounded,  and  so  borne  into  the 
town. 

And  thus,  day  after  day,  came  Gawaine  with 
his  challenge,  and  not  a  day  passed  but  some 
knight  fell  before  his  spear.  And  for  half  a  year 
the  siege  continued,  an  d  there  was  much  slaughter 
on  both  sides. 

At  length   came  a  day  when  Gawaine  again 


THE    WAR   BETWEEN    ARTHUR   AND    LANCELOT.       223 

appeared  before  the  gates,  armed  at  all  points, 
and  loudly  cried, — 

"  Where  art  thou  now,  thou  false  traitor,  Sir 
Lancelot?  Why  hidest  thou  within  walls  and 
holes  like  a  coward  ?  Come  forth,  traitor,  that  I 
may  revenge  on  thy  body  the  death  of  my  three 
brothers  ?" 

Then  said  Lancelot's  knights  to  their  leader, — 

"  Now,  Sir  Lancelot,  you  must  fight,  or  you  are 
shamed  forever.  It  is  time  for  you  to  stir,  for  you 
have  slept  over  long  and  we  suffered  over  much." 

"Defend  myself  I  must,  since  he  charges  me 
with  treason,"  said  Lancelot.  "His  words  cut 
deeply,  and  I  must  fight  or  be  held  recreant,"  and 
with  stern  countenance  he  bade  the  attendants  to 
saddle  his  strongest  horse  and  bring  his  arms  to 
the  gate  tower.  Then  from  this  tower  he  called 
to  the  king,  who  stood  below, — 

"  My  lord  Arthur,"  he  said,  "  sad  am  I,  for  youi 
sake,  that  thus  you  press  upon  me.  Had  I  been 
revengeful  I  might  have  met  you  in  open  field, 
and  there  made  your  boldest  knights  full  tame ; 
but  I  have  forborne  you  half  a  year,  and  given 
you  and  Gawaine  free  way.  It  is  much  against 
my  will  to  fight  with  any  of  your  blood,  but  since 
he  accuses  me  of  treason  I  am  driven  to  it  like  a 
beast  brought  to  bay." 

"  If  you  dare  do  battle,"  cried  Grawaine,  "  leave 
your  babbling  and  come  out.  Nothing  will  give 
deeper  joy  to  my  heart,  for  I  have  waited  long 
for  this  hour." 


224  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

At  this  Lancelot  mounted  and  rode  out,  and  a 
host  of  knights  followed  him  from  the  city,  while 
from  the  king's  army  a  throng  of  knights  pressed 
to  the  front.  But  covenant  was  made  that  none 
should  come  near  the  two  warriors  till  one  was 
dead  or  had  yielded,  and  the  knights  drew  back, 
leaving  a  broad  open  space  for  the  combatants. 

Gawaine  and  Lancelot  now  rode  far  apart,  and 
wheeled  their  horses  till  they  faced  each  other. 
Thus  they  stood  in  grim  silence  and  energy  till 
the  signal  for  the  onset  was  given,  when,  like  iron 
statues  come  to  life,  they  plunged  their  spurs  in 
the  flanks  of  their  chargers  and  dashed  at  furious 
speed  across  the  plain.  A  minute  passed,  and  they 
met  in  the  middle  with  a  shock  like  thunder,  but 
the  knights  were  so  strong  and  their  spears  so 
great,  that  the  horses  could  not  endure  the  buffets, 
and  fell  to  the  earth. 

In  a  moment  both  knights  had  leaped  clear  of 
their  saddles,  drawn  their  swords,  and  brought 
their  shields  before  them.  And  now  began  a  fierce 
and  terrible  affray,  for  they  stood  and  hewed 
at  each  other  with  might  and  main,  till  blood 
burst  in  many  places  through  the  joints  of  their 
armor. 

But  Gawaine  had  a  gift  that  a  holy  man  had 
given  him,  that  every  day  in  the  year,  from  nine 
o'clock  till  noon,  his  strength  should  increase  till 
it  became  threefold.  And  he  took  good  care  to 
fight  all  his  battles  during  these  hours,  whereby 
he  gained  great  honor. 


THE    WAR    BETWEEN    ARTHUR   AND   LANCELOT.      225 

None  know  of  this  gift  but  King  Arthur,  and 
as  Lancelot  felt  the  strength  of  his  antagonist 
constantly  increasing,  he  wondered  greatly,  and 
began  tc  fear  that  he  would  be  overcome.  It 
seemed  to  him  that  he  had  a  fiend,  and  no  earthly 
man,  before  him,  and  for  three  hours  he  traced 
and  traversed,  and  covered  himself  with  his  shield, 
scarcely  able  to  s-tand  against  the  brunt  of  Ga- 
waine's  mighty  blows.  At  this  all  men  marvelled, 
for  never  before  had  they  beheld  Lancelot  so 
sorely  driven  to  defence. 

But  when  the  hour  of  noon  had  passed,  the 
magic  might  of  Guwaine  suddenly  left  him,  and 
he  had  now  only  his  own  strength.  This  Lancelot 
felt,  and  he  drew  himself  up  and  pressed  on  his 
foe,  saying,— 

"  You  have  had  your  day,  Gawaine ;  now  it  is 
my  turn.  Defend  yourself,  for  I  have  many  a 
grievous  buffet  to  repay." 

Then  he  redoubled  his  strokes,  and  at  length 
gave  Gawaine  such  a  blow  on  the  helmet  that 
he  fell  to  the  earth.  Lancelot  now  withdrew  a 
step. 

"  Why  do  you  withdraw  ?"  cried  Gawaine,  bit- 
terly. "  Turn,  thou  traitor,  and  slay  me ;  for  if  I 
recover  you  shall  fight  with  me  again." 

"It  is  not  my  way,  Sir  Gawaine,  to  strike  a 
fallen  knight.  When  you  want  to  fight  again 
you  shall  not  find  me  lacking." 

Then  he  turned  and  went  with  his  knights  into 
the  city,  while  Gawaine  was  borne  from  the  field 
VOL.  III.— -p 


226  THE   HAND   OP   DKSTIHT. 

to  one  of  the  king's  pavilions,  where  leeches  were 
brought  to  attend  him. 

"  Alas  1"  said  the  king,  "  that  ever  this  unhappy 
war  began,  for  Sir  Lancelot  ever  forbeareth  me, 
and  my  kin  also,  and  that  is  well  seen  in  his 
sparing  my  nephew  Gawaine  this  day." 

Then  Arthur  fell  sick  from  sorrow  for  the  hurt 
of  his  nephew  and  regret  for  the  war.  The  siege 
was  kept  up,  but  with  little  energy,  and  both 
sides  rested  from  their  toils. 

Three  weeks  passed  before  Gawaine  regained 
his  strength ;  but  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  ride 
he  armed  again,  mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  to 
the  gate  of  Benwick,  where  ho  loudly  repeated 
his  challenge  to  Lancelot  as  a  traitor  and  recreant 
knight. 

"  You  got  the  best  of  me  by  mischance  at  our 
last  battle,"  he  said,  "  but  if  you  dare  come  into 
the  field  this  day  I  will  make  amends,  and  lay  you 
as  low  as  you  laid  me." 

"  Defend  me  from  such  a  fate,"  said  Lancelot, 
"  for  if  you  should  get  me  into  such  a  strait  my 
days  were  done.  But  since  you  in  this  unknightly 
fashion  charge  me  with  treason,  I  warrant  you 
shall  have  both  hands  full  before  you  gain  your 
end." 

Then  Lancelot  armed  and  rode  out,  and  the 
battle  began  as  before,  with  a  circle  of  armed 
knights  surrounding.  But  in  this  onset  Gawaine's 
spear  broke  into  a  hundred  pieces  in  his  hand, 
while  Lancelot  struck  him  with  such  might  that 


THI  WAR  BETWEEN  ARTHUR  AND  LANCELOT.   227 

his  horse's  feet  were  raised,  and  horse  and  rider 
toppled  to  the  earth. 

"  Alight,  traitor  knight !"  cried  Gawaine,  draw- 
ing his  sword.  "  If  a  horse  has  failed  me,  think 
not  that  a  king  and  queen's  son  shall  fail  thee." 

Then  Lancelot  sprang  to  the  ground  and  the 
battle  wont  on  as  before,  Gawaine' s  strength  in- 
creasing hour  by  hour.  But  Lancelot,  feeling  this, 
warily  kept  his  strength  and  his  wind,  keeping 
under  caver  of  his  shield,  and  tracing  and  travers- 
ing back  and  forth,  to  break  the  strength  and 
courage  of  his  foe. 

As  for  Gawaine,  he  put  forth  all  his  might  and 
power  to  destroy  Lancelot,  and  for  three  hours 
pressed  him  so  fiercely  that  he  could  barely  defend 
himself.  But  when  noon  passed,  and  Lancelot 
felt  Gawaine's  strength  again  decline,  he  said, — 

"  I  have  proved  you  twice,  Sir  Gawaine.  By 
this  magic  trick  of  your  strength  increasing  you 
have  deceived  many  a  valiant  knight.  You  have 
done  your  worst ;  now  you  shall  see  of  what 
metal  I  am  made." 

Then  he  attacked  him  fiercely,  and  Gawaine 
defended  himself  with  all  his  power;  but  at 
length  there  fell  such  a  heavy  blow  on  his  helmet, 
and  on  the  old  wound,  that  he  sank  to  the  earth 
in  a  swoon.  When  he  came  to  himself  again,  he 
struck  feebly  at  Lancelot  as  he  lay,  and  cried 
spitefully, — 

"  Thou  false  traitor,  I  am  not  yet  slain.  Come 
near  me,  and  do  this  battle  to  the  uttermost." 


228  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

*I  shall  do  no  more  than  I  have  dote,"  said 
Lancelot.  "  When  I  see  you  on  your  feet  again 
I  ehall  stand  ready  to  fight  you  to  the  bitter  end. 
But  to  qmite  a  wounded  and  prostrate  man  ! — God 
defend  me  from  such  a  shame." 

And  he  turned  and  went  towards  the  city,  while 
Gawaine  with  spiteful  malice  called  him  traitor, 
and  vowed  he  would  never  cease  to  fight  with  him 
till  one  of  them  was  dead. 

A  month  now  passed  away,  during  which  Ga- 
waine  lay  sick  of  his  wound.  As  ho  slowly  re- 
covered, the  old  battle-hunger  for  Lancelot's  blood 
returned  to  his  heart,  and  he  impatiently  awaited 
the  day  when  he  could  again  take  the  field.  But 
before  this  day  arrived,  news  came  from  England 
that  put  a  sudden  end  to  the  war ;  tidings  of  such 
threatening  aspect  that  King  Arthur  was  forced 
to  return  in  all  haste  to  his  own  realm. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE   STING   OP   THE   VIPER. 

DISASTROUS,  indeed,  were  the  news  from  Eng- 
land. King  Arthur  had  made  the  fatal  mistake 
of  placing  a  villain  and  dastard  in  chargo  of  his 
realm,  for  Mordred  had  taken  advantage  of  his 
absence  to  turn  traitor,  and  seek  to  seize  the 
crown  and  scoptre  of  England  as  his  own. 


THK   STING   OP   THE   VIPIB. 

News  moved  but  slowly  from  over  seas  in  those 
days,  and  Mordred,  with  treasonable  craft,  had 
letters  written  as  though  they  came  from  abroad, 
which  said  that  King  Arthur  had  been  slain  in 
battle  with  Sir  Lancelot. 

Having  spread  this  lie  far  and  wide,  he  called 
the  lords  together  to  London  in  parliament,  and 
so  managed  that  they  voted  him  king.  Then  he 
was  crowned  at  Canterbury,  and  held  a  feast  for 
fifteen  days,  after  which  he  went  to  Winchester, 
where  Guenever  was,  and  publicly  declared  that 
he  would  wed  his  uncle's  widow. 

"When  word  of  this  came  to  Guenever  she  grew 
heavy  at  heart,  for  she  hated  the  traitor  to  her 
soul's  depth.  But  she  was  in  his  power,  and  was 
forced  to  hide  her  secret  hate.  She  therefore 
seemed  to  consent  to  his  will,  and  desired  permis- 
sion to  go  to  London,  where  she  might  buy  all 
things  that  were  necessary  for  the  wedding.  She 
spoke  so  fairly  that  he  trusted  her,  and  gave  her 
leave  to  make  the  journey. 

But  no  sooner  had  she  reached  London  than  she 
took  possession  of  the  Tower,  and  with  all  haste 
supplied  it  with  provisions  and  garrisoned  it  with 
men,  and  so  held  it  as  a  fortress,  many  knights 
holding  with  her  against  the  usurper. 

Mordred  soon  learned  that  he  had  been  beguiled 
by  the  queen,  and,  moved  to  fury,  he  hastened 
to  London,  where  he  besieged  the  Tower,  assail- 
ing it  vigorously  with  great  engines  of  war.  But 
Guenever  held  out  stoutly  against  him,  and  neither 
20 


230  THE    HAND   OF    DESTINY. 

by  fair  speech  nor  foul  could  he  induce  her  to 
trust  herself  into  his  hands  again. 

There  now  came  to  Mordred  the  bishop  of 
Canterbury,  who  said, — 

"Sir,  what  would  you  do?  Would  you  dis- 
please God  and  shame  knighthood  by  wedding 
the  wife  of  your  uncle,  who  has  been  to  you  as  a 
father  ?  Cease  this  vile  purpose,  I  command  you, 
or  I  shall  curse  you  with  book,  and  bell,  and 
candle,  and  bring  upon  your  head  the  vengeance 
of  the  church." 

"  Do  your  worst,  sir  priest,"  said  Mordred,  an- 
grily. "  I  defy  you." 

"  I  shall  do  what  I  ought ;  be  sure  of  that.  You 
noise  about  that  my  lonl  Arthur  is  slain,  no  word 
of  which  I  believe.  You  seek  with  a  lie  to  make 
mischief  in  this  land.  Beware,  lest  your  vile  work 
recoil  upon  yourself." 

"  Peace,  thou  false  priest,"  cried  Mordred. 
"  Chafe  me  no  more,  or  I  shall  order  that  thy  head 
b«  stricken  off." 

Finding  that  words  were  useless,  the  bishop 
departed,  and,  as  he  had  threatened,  laid  the  curse 
of  the  church  on  Mordred.  Roused  to  rage  by 
this,  the  usurper  sought  him  to  slay  him,  and  he 
fled  in  all  haste  to  Glastonbury,  where  he  took 
refuge  as  a  hermit  in  a  chapel.  But  well  he  knew 
that  war  was  at  hand,  and  that  the  rightful  king 
would  soon  strike  for  the  throne. 

Despite  the  anathema  of  the  church,  Mordred 
continued  his  efforts  to  get  Guenever  into  his 


THE   8TINQ   OF  THE    VIPER.  231 

power ;  but  she  held  firmly  to  the  Tower,  repelling 
all  his  assaults,  and  declaring  openly  that  she 
would  rather  kill  herself  than  marry  such  a 
wretch.  Soon  afterwards  he  was  forced  to  raise 
the  siege,  for  word  came  to  him  by  secret  mes- 
sengers that  Arthur  had  heard  of  his  treason,  and 
was  coming  home  with  his  whole  host  to  revenge 
himself  on  the  usurper  of  his  crown. 

When  Mordred  heard  this  he  made  strenuous 
efforts  to  gather  a  large  army,  and  many  lords 
joined  him  with  their  people,  saying  that  with 
Arthur  there  had  been  nothing  but  war  and  strife, 
but  that  with  Mordred  they  hoped  for  peace  and 
a  quiet  life.  Thus  was  evil  said  of  the  good  King 
Arthur  when  he  was  away  from  the  land,  and  that 
by  many  who  owed  to  him  their  honors  and 
estates.  Mordred  was  thus  quickly  able  to  draw 
with  a  great  host  to  Dover,  where  he  had  heard 
that  Arthur  would  land,  for  he  hoped  to  defeat 
and  slay  him  before  he  could  get  firm  footing  on 
England's  soil. 

Not  long  had  he  been  there  when  a  great  fleet 
of  ships,  galleys,  and  carracks  appeared  upon  the 
sea,  bearing  the  king's  army  back  to  their  native 
realm.  On  the  beach  stood  Mordred' s  host,  drawn 
up  to  prevent  the  landing  of  the  king's  army.  As 
the  boats  came  to  the  shore,  laden  with  noble 
nien-of-arms,  a  fierce  struggle  ensued,  in  which 
many  a  knight  was  slain,  while  full  many  a  bold 
baron  was  laid  low  on  both  sides.  But  so  cour- 
ageous was  the  king,  and  so  fierce  the  onsot  of  his 


232  THE    HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

knights,  that  the  opposing  host  could  not  hinder 
the  landing  of  his  army.  And  when  they  had 
gained  a  footing  on  the  land,  they  set  on  Mordred 
with  such  fury  that  he  and  all  his  host  were 
driven  back  and  forced  to  fly,  leaving  Arthui 
master  of  the  field. 

After  the  battle,  the  king  ordered  that  the  dead 
should  be  buried  and  the  wounded  cared  for. 
Among  the  latter  Sir  Gawaine  was  found  ly'ng 
in  a  great  boat,  where  he  had  been  felled  with  a 
deadly  wound  in  the  bitter  strife.  On  hearing 
this  direful  news,  Arthur  hastened  to  him  and 
took  him  in  bis  arms,  with  great  show  of  grief 
and  pain. 

"  In  you  and  in  Lancelot  I  had  my  highest  joy," 
moaned  the  king.  "  Now  I  have  lost  you  both, 
and  all  my  earthly  happiness  is  gone." 

"  My  death  is  at  hand,"  said  Gawaine,  "  and  I 
owe  it  all  to  my  own  hate  and  bitterness,  for  I  ara 
smitten  on  the  old  wound  that  Lancelot  gave  me, 
and  feel  that  I  must  die.  Had  he  but  been  with 
you  this  unhappy  war  would  never  have  begun. 
Of  all  this  I  am  the  cause,  and  have  but  received 
my  deserts.  Therefore  I  pray  you.  dear  uncle,  let 
me  have  paper,  pen,  and  ink,  that  I  may  write  tc 
Sir  Lancelot  with  my  own  hand." 

These  were  brought  him,  and  Gawaine  wrote  a 
moving  and  tender  letter  to  Lancelot,  blaming 
himself  severely  for  his  hardness  of  heart. 

In  this  wise  it  ran, — 

"  Unto  Sir  Lancelot,  flower  of  all  noble  knights, 


TH«   STING   OF   THE   VI*«R.  233 

I,  Sir  Gawaine,  son  of  King  Lot  of  Orkney,  and 
sister's  son  unto  the  noble  King  Arthur,  send 
greeting ;  and  also  these  sad  tidings,  that  on  the 
tenth  day  of  May  I  was  smitten  on  the  old  wound 
which  you  gave  me  at  Bonwick,  and  thus  through 
this  wound  have  I  come  to  my  death.  And  I 
would  have  all  the  world  know  that  I,  Sir  Gawaine, 
Knight  of  the  Eound  Table,  have  met  with  death 
not  through  your  ill-will,  but  from  my  own  seek- 
ing ;  therefore  I  beseech  you  to  come  in  all  haste 
to  this  realm,  to  which  you  have  heretofore  done 
such  honor.  I  earnestly  pray  you,  Sir  Lancelot, 
for  all  the  love  that  ever  was  betwixt  us,  make 
no  tarrying,  but  come  over  the  sea  in  all  haste, 
that  thou  mayest  with  thy  noble  knights  rescue 
that  royal  king  who  made  thee  knight,  for  he  is 
hard  bested  with  a  falsa  traitor,  my  own  half- 
brother,  Sir  Mordred,  who  has  had  himself 
crowned  king,  and  would  have  wedded  Queen 
Guenever  had  she  not  taken  refuge  in  the  Tower 
of  London.  We  put  him  to  flight  on  our  land- 
ing, on  the  tenth  day  of  May,  but  he  still  holds 
against  us  with  a  great  host.  Therefore,  I  pray 
you  to  come,  for  I  am  within  two  hours  of  my 
death  ;  and  I  beg  that  you  will  visit  my  tomb, 
and  pray  some  prayer,  more  or  less,  for  my  soul." 
When  Sir  Gawaine  had  finished  this  letter  he 
wept  bitter  tears  of  sorrow  and  remorse,  and 
Arthur  wept  beside  him  till  they  both  swooned, 
the  one  from  grief,  the  other  from  pain.  When 
they  recovered,  the  king  had  the  rites  of  the 
20* 


234  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

church  administered  to  the  dying  knight,  who 
then  prayed  him  to  send  in  haste  for  Lancelot, 
and  to  cherish  him  above  all  other  knights,  as 
his  best  friend  and  ally. 

Afterwards,  at  the  hour  of  noon,  Gawaine 
yielded  up  his  spirit.  And  the  king  had  him  in- 
terred in  Dover  castle,  where  men  to  this  day  may 
see  his  skull,  with  the  wound  thereon  that  Lancelot 
gave  him  in  battle. 

Word  was  now  brought  to  King  Arthur  that 
Mordred  had  pitched  a  new  camp  on  Barham 
Down.  Thither  in  all  haste  he  led  his  army,  and 
there  a  second  great  battle  was  fought,  with  much 
loss  on  both  sides.  But  at  the  end  Arthur's  party 
stood  best,  and  Mordred  fled,  with  all  his  host,  to 
Canterbury. 

This  second  victory  changed  the  feeling  of  the 
country,  and  many  people  who  had  held  aloof 
joined  the  king's  army,  saying  that  Mordred  was 
a  traitor  and  usurper.  When  the  dead  had  been 
buried  and  the  wounded  cared  for,  Arthur  marched 
with  his  host  to  the  sea-shore,  westward  towards 
Salisbury.  Here  a  challenge  passed  between  him 
and  Mordred,  in  which  they  agreed  to  meet  on  a 
down  beside  Salisbury,  on  the  day  after  Trinity 
Sunday,  and  there  fight  out  their  quarrel. 

Atordred  now  made  haste  to  recruit  his  army, 
raising  many  men  about  London,  for  the  people 
of  that  section  of  the  country  held  largely  with 
him,  and  particularly  those  who  were  friendly  to 
Lancelot.  When  the  time  fixed  came  near,  the 


THE   8TINQ   OF   THE   VIPER.  235 

two  armies  drew  together  and  camped  on  Salis- 
bury Down. 

And  so  the  days  passed  till  came  the  night  of 
Trinity  Sunday,  when  the  king  dreamed  a  strange 
dream,  for  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  sat  in  a  chair 
that  was  fastened  to  a  wheel,  and  was  covered 
wth  the  richest  cloth  of  gold  that  could  be  made. 
But  far  beneath  him  he  beheld  a  hideous  black 
pool,  in  which  were  all  manner  of  serpents,  and 
vile  wor  Jis,  foul  and  horrible.  Suddenly  the  wheel 
seemed  to  turn,  and  he  fell  among  the  serpents, 
which  seized  upon  his  limbs. 

Awaking  in  fright,  he  loudly  cried,  "  Help  1" 
and  knights  and  squires  came  crowding  in  alarm 
into  his  chamber ;  but  he  was  so  amazed  that  he 
knew  not  where  he  was  nor  what  he  said. 

Then  he  fell  again  into  a  half  slumber,  in  which 
Gawaine  seemed  to  come  to  him  attended  by  a 
number  of  fair  ladies. 

"  Fair  nephew,"  asked  the  king,  "  who  are  these 
ladies?" 

"  They  are  those  for  whom  I  did  battle  during 
my  life,"  answered  Gawaine.  "  God  has  sent 
them  and  me  to  warn  you  of  your  coming  death, 
for  if  you  fight  with  Mordred  to-morrow,  as  you 
have  agreed,  you  will  both  be  slain,  and  most 
of  your  people.  Therefore  I  am  here  to  warn 
you  not  to  fight  to-morrow,  but  to  treat  with 
the  traitor,  and  make  him  large  and  fair  prom- 
ises, so  as  to  gain  a  month's  delay.  Within  that 
time  Lancelot  and  his  knights  will  come,  and 


236  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

Mordred  the  usurper  cannot  hold  against  you 
both." 

This  said,  Gawaine  and  the  ladies  vanished. 
Then  Arthur  waked,  and  sent  messengers  in  haste 
to  bring  his  lords  and  bishops  to  council.  When 
they  had  come  he  told  them  his  dream,  and  they 
counselled  him  by  all  means  to  be  guided  by  it. 
Lucan  the  butler,  and  his  brother  Sir  Bevidere 
with  two  bishops,  were  therefore  sent  to  treat 
with  Mordred,  and  make  him  large  promises  for 
a  month's  truce. 

The  commissioners  sought  Mordred's  camp  and 
held  a  long  conference  with  him.  At  the  end 
he  agreed  to  meet  King  Arthur  on  the  plain 
between  the  hosts,  each  to  bring  but  fourteen 
persons  with  him,  and  there  consult  on  the  treaty. 

"  I  am  glad  that  this  is  accomplished,"  said  the 
King,  when  word  of  the  compact  was  brought 
him. 

But  when  he  was  ready  to  start  for  the  place 
of  conference,  with  the  fourteen  chosen  men,  he 
said  to  his  knights, — 

"  Be  wary  and  watchful,  for  I  trust  not  Mor- 
dred.  If  you  see  any  sword  drawn,  come  fiercely 
forward,  and  slay  the  villain  and  his  guard." 

Mordred  gave  the  same  warning  to  his  lords, 
for  he  had  equal  mistrust  of  Arthur,  whom  he 
feared  and  doubted. 

The  two  leaders,  with  their  chosen  followers, 
now  advanced  and  met  between  the  hosts.  But 
by  a  fatal  chance,  as  the  king  and  his  opponent 


THE   6TINQ   OF   THJE   VIPK£.  237 

were  in  consultation,  an  adder  came  from  a  heath 
bush  and  stung  a  knight  on  the  foot.  Feel'ng  the 
wound,  he  drew  his  sword  in  thoughtless  haste  to 
kill  the  venomous  serpent.  But  the  instant  the 
hosts  on  both  sides  saw  that  sword  flash  in  the  air 
all  was  uproar  and  tumult.  On  both  sides  trum- 
pets and  horns  were  blown,  harness  rattled  and 
clanked,  and  the  flash  of  spear-heads  and  sword- 
blades  gleamed  in  the  sunlight,  while  like  two 
mighty  waves  of  war  the  great  hosts  broke  from 
their  stations  and  rushed  together  across  the 
plain. 

Then  Arthur  sprang  to  his  horse,  exclaiming, 
"  Alas !  this  unhappy  day  I"  and  rode  to  hw  party ; 
and  Mordred  did  likewise. 

No  hand  nor  voice  could  stay  the  advancing 
hosts,  and  in  a  moment  there  began  the  most 
doleful  battle  ever  seen  in  Christian  land.  For 
there  was  rushing  and  riding,  foining  and  striking, 
and  deadly  clamor,  and  fearful  strife.  Many  a 
grim  word  was  there  spoken,  and  many  a  deadly 
stroke  dealt.  Many  times  King  Arthur  rode 
through  Mordrcd's  host,  and  knightly  were  the 
deeds  of  his  hands.  And  Mordred  fought  with 
knightly  valor  and  zeal. 

Thus  went  on  the  deadly  fray  all  day  long, 
without  pause  or  stint,  till  noble  knights  lay  like 
fallen  leaves  upon  the  bloody  ground.  And  when 
nightfall  was  at  hand  they  still  fought  with  des- 
perate valor,  though  by  that  time  full  a  hundred 
thousand  men  lay  dead  upon  the  down. 


238  THE   HAND   OF   DI8TINT 

Then  the  heart  of  Arthur  grew  full  of  warlike 
fury,  to  see  so  many  of  his  people  slain.  And 
when  the  sun  was  near  its  setting,  he  leaned  upon 
his  crimsoned  sword,  and  looked  about  him  with 
eyes  that  seemed  to  weep  blood.  For  of  all  hia 
mighty  host  of  knights  but  two  remained  alive, 
Sir  Lucan  the  butler,  and  his  brother  Sir  Bevi 
dere ;  and  both  of  these  were  sorely  wounded. 

"  God's  mercy  I"  cried  the  king,  "  where  are  all 
my  noble  knights?  Alas!  that  I  have  lived  to 
see  this  doleful  day  I  Now,  indeed,  am  I  come  to 
my  end.  But  would  to  God  I  knew  where  to  find 
that  traitor,  Mordred,  who  has  caused  all  this  mis- 
chief." 

As  he  spoke,  his  eyes  fell  on  Mordred,  who 
stood  leaning  upon  his  sword  amid  a  great  heap 
of  slain,  for  his  host  had  been  slaughtered  to  a 
man. 

"  Give  me  my  spear,"  cried  Arthur,  wrathfully, 
to  Sir  Lucan.  "  Yonder  stands  the  traitor  who 
has  wrought  this  dire  woe." 

"  Let  him  be,"  said  Lucan.  "  He  is  unhappy 
enough.  Remember,  my  good  lord,  your  last 
night's  dream,  and  what  the  spirit  of  Sir  Gawaine 
told  you.  For  God's  sake  make  an  end  of  this 
fray.  Blessed  be  God,  we  have  won  the  field  ;  for 
here  are  three  of  us  alive,  while  Mordred  stands 
alone  among  his  dead.  If  you  leave  off  now,  the 
wicked  day  of  destiny  will  pass  and  life  remain 
to  you  Y:>ur  time  for  revenge  will  come  here- 
after." 


THE   8TINO   OF   THE   VIPER.  239 

"  Betide  me  life,  betide  me  death,"  cried  the  king, 
"this  fray  must  end  here.  Now  that  I  see  him 
yonder  alone,  he  shall  never  escape  my  hands. 
One  or  both  of  us  shall  die." 

"  Then  God  speed  the  just  cause,"  said  Bevidere. 

With  no  word  more  Arthur  took  his  spear 
in  both  hands,  and  ran  furiously  at  Mordred, 
crying,— 

"  Traitor,  now  has  thy  day  of  death  come !" 

When  Mordred  heard  him,  he  raised  his  drip- 
ping sword  and  ran  to  meet  the  king.  Thus  they 
met  in  mid-field,  and  King  Arthur  smote  Mordred 
under  the  shield,  the  spear  piercing  his  body 
more  than  a  fathom. 

Mordred  felt  tbat  he  had  his  death-wound,  but 
with  a  last  impulse  of  fury  in  his  felon  soul  he 
thrust  himself,  with  all  his  strength,  up  to  the 
bur  of  King  Arthur's  spear.  Then  wielding  his 
sword  with  both  hands,  he  struck  the  king  so 
dread  a  blow  on  the  side  of  the  head  that  the 
trenchant  blade  cut  through  the  hehnet  and  deep 
into  the  skull. 

With  this  last  and  fatal  stroke  Mordred  fell 
stark  dead  to  the  ground.  And  Arthur  sank  in 
a  swoon  to  the  earth,  where  he  lay  like  one 
dead. 

Thus  sadly  and  direfully  ended  that  dreadful 
war,  with  which  came  to  a  close  the  flower  of  the 
days  of  chivalry,  and  the  glorious  and  never-to- 
be  equalled  fellowship  of  the  Round  Table,  with 
all  the  mighty  deeds  of  prowess  and  marvels  of 


240  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

adventure  that  to  it  belonged.  For  of  those  noble 
knights,  except  Sir  Lancelot  and  his  kindred,  only 
two  lived,  Sir  Lucan  the  butler,  and  Sir  Bevidere 
his  brother,  and  of  these  two  Sir  Lucan  was 
wounded  unto  death ;  and  with  them  the  illus- 
trious King  Arthur,  whose  chivalrous  soul  had  so 
long  sustained  this  noble  order  of  knighthood, 
lay  bleeding  piteously  upon  that  direful  field  of 
blood. 

Sir  Lucan  and  Bevidere,  with  bitter  tears  of 
sorrow,  lifted  their  helpless  king  between  them, 
and  with  great  labor  led  him  from  that  place  of 
slaughter  till  they  reached  a  small  chapel  near 
the  sea-shore.  Here,  as  the  night  drew  on,  the 
sound  of  many  voices  came  to  them,  as  if  the 
dead  had  risen  and  were  astir  on  the  blood-stained 
field. 

"What  noise  is  this,  Sir  Lucan?"  said  the 
king.  "  Go,  gentle  friend,  and  tell  me  what  it 
means." 

Lucan  went,  and  by  the  moonlight  saw  a  throng 
of  pillagers,  who  robbed  the  dead  bodies  of  nioney 
and  jewels,  killing  for  their  riches  those  knights 
who  were  not  quite  dead.  When  he  brought  this 
news  back  to  Arthur,  the  king's  sad  heart  carae 
near  to  breaking. 

"  Alas !  Lancelot,"  he  said,  "  how  have  I  missed 
you  this  day.  Alas !  that  I  ever  turned  against 
you,  for  had  you  been  here  this  fatal  end  could 
never  have  been,  nor  those  noble  warriors  left  to 
be  the  prey  of  the  wolves  and  jackals  of  the  bat- 


THE    PASSING  OF   ARTHUR.  241 

tie-field.  Sorely  have  I  erred  and  sadly  have  I 
been  repaid  for  my  error.  But  now,  alas,  it  is  too 
late  for  regret  or  amendment,  for  the  fellowship 
of  the  Bound  Table  is  at  an  end,  and  Arthur  the 
king  shall  reign  no  more." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   PASSING  OF  ARTHUR. 

WHEN  morning  dawned,  after  that  day  of  fate, 
Lucan  and  Bevidere  took  up  the  king  between 
them,  and  sought  to  bear  him  to  the  sea-shore,  as 
he  bade  them  do.  But  in  the  lifting  the  king 
•swooned,  and  Lucan  fell  prostrate,  the  blood 
gushing  anew  from  his  wound. 

Arthur  lay  long  like  one  dead,  and  when  he 
came  to  himself  again  he  saw  Lucan  lifeless  at 
his  feet,  with  foam  upon  his  lips,  and  the  ground 
around  him  deeply  stained  with  his  blood. 

"  Alas !  this  is  a  heavy  sight  to  see,"  he  said. 
"  He  sought  to  help  me  when  he  stood  most  in 
need  of  help.  He  would  not  complain  though  his 
heart  broke,  and  has  given  his  life  for  mine.  May 
Jesus  have  mercy  on  his  soul." 

Bevidere  stood  beside  him,  weeping  bitterly  for 
the  death  of  his  brother. 

"  Weep  and  mourn  no  more,"  said  the  king.  "  It 
will  not  now  avail  Could  I  live,  the  death  of  Sir 
Lucan  would  grieve  me  evermore.  But  my  time 
VOL.  III.— L  {  21 


242  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

goeth  fast,  and  there  is  that  to  do  for  which  but 
few  moments  remain." 

Then  he  closed  his  eyes  for  a  time,  like  one  who 
sees  visions ;  and  when  he  looked  again  there  war 
that  in  his  face  which  Bevidere  could  not  fathom 
and  his  eyes  were  deep  with  meaning  unrevealed 

•'  Now,  my  lord  Bevidere,"  said  the  king,  "  the 
end  is  at  hand.  Take  thou  my  good  sword  Ex- 
calibur,  and  go  with  it  to  yonder  water-side. 
When  thou  comest  there,  I  charge  thee  throw  it 
as  far  as  thou  canst  into  the  water ;  then  come 
again  and  tell  me  what  thing  thou  seest." 

"Trust  me,  my  lord  and  king,  your  command 
shall  be  obeyed,"  said  Bevidere. 

So  he  took  the  sword  and  departed  to  the 
water-side.  But  as  his  eyes  fell  upon  the  noble 
weapon,  whose  pommel  and  haft  were  all  of  pre- 
cious stones,  a  feeling  of  greed  came  upon  him, 
and  he  said  to  himself, — 

"  If  I  throw  this  rich  sword  into  the  water,  nc 
good  can  come  of  it,  but  only  harm  and  loss.  Had 
I  not  better  keep  it  for  myself?" 

Moved  by  this  thought,  he  hid  Excalibur  undei 
a  tree,  and  returned  to  the  king,  whom  he  told 
that  he  had  thrown  the  sword  into  the  water. 

"  What  saw  you  there  ?"  asked  the  king. 

"  Sir,  I  saw  nothing  but  the  rippling  waves." 

M  Then  you  speak  untruly,"  said  the  king. 
"  You  have  not  thrown  the  sword  as  I  bade  you. 
Go  again,  and  obey  my  command,  as  you  are  to  me 
dear  and  true.  Spare  not,  but  throw  it  in  afar." 


THE    PASSING   OF    ASTHUR.  243 

Bevidere  thereupon  wont  again,  and  took  the 
sword  in  his  hand.  But  the  rich  jewels  so  glit- 
tered in  the  sun  that  his  greed  came  back  more 
strongly  than  before,  and  he  deemed  it  a  sin  to 
throw  into  the  sea  that  noble  blade.  So  he  hid 
the  sword  again,  and  returned  to  the  king  with 
his  former  tale. 

"  What  sawest  thou  there  ?"  asked  the  king. 

"  Sir,  I  saw  nothing  but  the  waves  that  broke  on 
the  beach,  and  heard  only  the  roar  of  the  surf." 

"  Ah,  traitor !  false  and  untrue  art  thou  1"  cried 
the  king.  "  Thou  hast  betrayed  me  twice.  Who 
would  have  thought  that  thou,  whom  I  held  dear, 
and  who  art  narnod  a  noble  knight,  would  betray 
his  king  for  the  jewels  of  a  sword  ?  Go  again,  for 
thy  long  delay  puts  me  in  great  jeopardy  of  my 
life.  If  now  you  do  not  as  I  have  bidden,  beware 
of  me  hereafter,  for  dead  or  alive  I  will  have 
revenge  upon  you.  Would  you,  Sir  Bevidere,  for 
a  shining  blade,  bring  death  and  ruin  to  your 
king?" 

Then  Bevidere,  heart-full  of  shame,  hastened 
away,  and  took  the  sword,  turning  his  eyes  man- 
fully away  from  its  jewelled  hilt.  Binding  the 
girdle  around  it,  with  all  the  might  of  his  arm 
he  hurled  the  blade  far  out  over  the  waves. 

Then  came  a  marvel.  For  as  he  followed  the 
sword  with  his  eyes,  he  saw  a  hand  and  arm  rise 
above  the  waves  to  meet  the  blade.  The  hand 
caught  it  by  the  hilt,  and  brandished  it  thrioo  in 
the  air,  and  then  vanished  with  it  into  the  water 


244  THE    HAND   OP   DEgTINY. 

Bevidere,  much  wondering,  hurried  back  to  the 
king,  and  told  him  what  he  had  seen. 

"  Now,  Sir  Bevidere,  you  have  done  as  I  bade 
you,"  said  Arthur.  "But  much  precious  time 
have  you  lost.  Help  me  hence,  in  God's  name,  for 
I  fear  that  I  have  tarried  over-long." 

Then  Bevidere  took  the  king  on  his  back  and 
bore  him  to  the  water-side,  and  lo  I  there  he  saw 
another  strange  thing. 

For  close  by  the  shore  lay  a  little  barge,  which 
he  had  not  seen  before,  and  in  it  sat  many  fair 
ladies,  among  whom  were  three  queens,  who  wore 
black  hoods,  and  wept  with  bitter  sorrow  when 
they  saw  King  Arthur. 

"Now  help  me  into  the  barge,"  said  the 
king. 

This  Sir  Bevidere  did  as  gently  as  he  could. 
And  the  three  queens  received  the  dying  monarch 
with  deep  mourning,  and  had  him  laid  between 
them,  with  his  head  on  the  lap  of  her  who  sat  in 
the  centre. 

"  Alas !  dear  brother,  why  have  you  tarried  so 
long  from  me  ?"  said  this  queen.  "  Much  harm  I 
fear  from  this  sad  wound." 

And  so  they  rowed  from  the  land,  while  Bevi- 
dere stood  on  the  shore  sadly  watching  the  barge 
go  from  him. 

"  Ah,  my  lord  Arthur,"  he  cried,  "  what  shall 
become  of  me,  now  that  you  go  from  me  and  leave 
me  here  alone  among  my  enemies  ?" 

"  Comfort  thyself,"  said  the  king,  "  and  do  what 


THE   PASSING   OF  ARTHUR.  246 

thon  mayest,  for  in  me  can  no  man  henceforth 
put  his  trust.  I  go  into  the  vale  of  Avilion,  to  a 
happy  summer  island  far  over  the  sea,  where  I 
shall  be  healed  of  my  grievous  wound.  But  when 
I  shall  come  again  no  voice  may  tell.  Mayhap  I 
shall  never  come,  but  dwell  forever  in  that  sunny 
vale.  If  you  never  hear  more  of  me,  pray  for 
my  soul." 

Then  again  the  queens  and  the  ladies  wept  and 
moaned,  and  the  barge  moved  swiftly  over  the 
long  waves  and  afar  to  sea,  while  Bevidere  stood 
and  watched  it  till  it  became  a  black  speck  on  the 
waters.  Then  it  vanished  and  was  seen  no  more, 
and  the  lonely  watcher  cast  himself  upon  the 
beach,  weeping  like  one  who  has  lost  all  life's 
happiness. 

But  when  night  came  near  he  turned  and  went 
wearily  away,  heavy  with  the  weight  of  death 
that  lay  upon  his  soul,  for  he  alone  remained  of 
yesterday's  mighty  hosts.  All  that  night  he 
journeyed  through  a  great  forest,  and  in  the 
morning  he  found  himself  between  two  hoary 
cliffs,  with  a  chapel  and  a  hermitage  in  the  glen 
that  lay  between. 

In  this  hermitage  he  found  the  holy  man  who 
had  been  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  who  had 
come  hither  to  escape  Mordred's  rage.  "With  him 
Bevidere  stayed  till  he  was  cured  of  his  wounds, 
ar.d  afterwards  he  put  on  poor  clothes,  and  served 
the  hermit  full  lowly  in  fasting  and  prayers. 

But  as  for  the  three  queens  who  went  with 
21* 


246  THE    HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

Arthur  to  the  island  of  Avilion,  the  chronicles  say 
that  they  were  Morgan  le  Fay  his  sister,  the 
queen  of  Northgalis,  and  the  queen  of  the  Waste 
Lands.  And  with  them  was  Nimue,  the  lady  of 
the  lake.  All  were  skilled  in  magic  ;  but  whither 
they  bore  King  Arthur,  or  where  lies  the  magical 
isle  of  Aviliou,  or  if  he  shall  come  again,  all  this 
no  man  can  say.  These  are  of  the  secrets  that 
time  alone  can  tell,  and  we  only  know  that  his 
coming  is  not  yet. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  DEATH  OF  LANCELOT  AND  GUENEVEB. 

WHEN  word  was  brought  to  Lancelot  du  Lake 
that  Mordred  had  usurped  the  throne  of  England, 
had  besieged  Guenever  in  the  Tower  of  London, 
and  had  sought  to  prevent  Arthur  from  landing 
at  Dover,  his  soul  was  moved  to  wrath  and  sor- 
row. And  still  more  was  he  moved  by  the  letter 
of  Sir  Gawaine,  with  its  pitiful  self-reproach  and 
earnest  wistfulness. 

"  Is  it  a  time  for  mourning  ?"  said  Sir  Bore  to 
Lancelot.  "  My  counsel  is  that  you  cross  at  once 
to  England,  visit  Gawaine's  tomb,  as  he  requests, 
and  then  revenge  ray  lord  Arthur  and  my  lady 
Guenever  on  this  base  traitor,  Mordred." 

"  It  is  well  advised,"  said  Lancelot.  "  To  Eng- 
land we  must  go  in  all  haste." 


THE   DEATH   OF   LANCELOT   AND   QUENKVKE.      247 

Then  ships  and  galloys  wore  made  ready  with 
the  greatest  despatch,  for  Lancelot  and  his  host 
to  pass  over  to  England.  And  in  good  time  he 
landed  at  Dover,  having  with  him  seven  kings 
and  a  mighty  host  of  men. 

But  when  he  asked  the  people  of  Dover  the 
news  of  the  country,  his  heart  was  filled  with 
dismay  to  hear  of  the  great  battle  on  Salisbury 
Downs,  where  a  hundred  thousand  men  had  died 
in  a  day,  and  of  the  death  of  Arthur  the  king. 

"  Alas !"  said  Lancelot,  "  this  is  the  heaviest 
tidings  that  ever  mortal  ears  heard.  Would  that 
I  had  been  advised  in  good  time.  Nothing  now 
remains  to  do.  I  have  come  too  late.  Pair  sirs, 
I  pray  you  to  show  me  the  tomb  of  Sir  Gawaine." 

Then  they  brought  him  into  the  castle  of 
Dover,  and  showed  him  the  tomb.  Lancelot  fell 
on  his  knees  before  it,  and  wept,  and  prayed 
heartily  for  the  soul  of  him  that  lay  within.  And 
that  night  he  made  a  funeral  feast,  to  which  all 
who  came  had  flesh,  fish,  wine,  and  ale,  and  every 
man  and  woman  was  given  twelve  pence.  With 
his  own  hand  he  dealt  them  money  in  a  mourning 
gown  ;  and  ever  he  wept,  and  prayed  for  the  soul 
of  Sir  Gawaine. 

In  the  morning,  all  the  priests  and  clerks  of  the 
country  round  gathered,  at  his  request,  and  sang 
a  requiem  mass  before  the  tomb.  And  Lancelot 
offered  a  hundred  pounds,  and  each  of  the  seven 
kings  forty  pounds,  and  a  thousand  knights  offered 
one  pound  each,  this  going  on  from  morning  tiJl 


248  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

night.  And  Lancelot  lay  two  nights  on  the  tomb 
in  prayer  and  weeping. 

On  the  third  day  he  called  about  him  the  kings, 
dukes,  earls,  barons,  and  knights  of  his  train,  and 
said  to  them, — 

"  My  fair  lords,  I  thank  you  all  for  coming  into 
this  country  with  me  ;  but  we  have  come  too  late, 
and  that  I  shall  mourn  while  I  live.  But  since  it 
is  so,  I  shall  myself  ride  and  seek  my  lady  Queen 
Gruenever,  for  men  say  that  she  has  fled  from 
London,  and  become  a  nun,  and  that  she  lives 
in  deep  penance,  and  in  fasting,  prayers,  and  alms- 
giving, and  is  sick  almost  unto  death.  There- 
fore, I  pray  you,  await  me  here,  and  if  I  come 
not  again  within  fifteen  days,  then  take  ship  and 
return  to  your  own  country." 

"Is  it  wise  for  you  to  ride  in  this  realm?" 
said  Sir  Bors.  "  Few  friends  will  you  find  here 
now." 

"  Be  that  as  it  may,"  said  Lancelot,  "  I  shall  go 
on  my  journey.  Keep  you  still  here,  for  no  man 
nor  child  shall  go  with  me." 

No  boot  was  it  to  strive  with  him,  and  he  de- 
parted and  rode  westerly,  on  a  seven  or  eight 
days'  journey,  asking  of  all  people  as  he  went. 
At  last  he  came  to  the  nunnery  where  was  Queen 
Guenever,  who  saw  him  as  she  walked  in  the 
cloister,  and  swooned  away,  so  that  her  ladies  had 
work  enough  to  keep  her  from  falling.  When  she 
oould  speak,  she  said, — 

"  Te  marvel  why  I  am  so  held.     Truly,  it  is  for 


THE  DEATH  07  LANCELOT  AND  QUENEVEB,   249 

the  sight  of  yonder  knight.  Bid  him  come  hither, 
I  pray  you." 

And  when  Sir  Lancelot  bad  come,  she  said  to 
him  with  sweet  and  sad  visage, — 

"  Sir  Lancelot,  through  our  love  has  all  this 
happened,  and  through  it  my  noble  lord  has  come 
to  his  death.  As  for  me,  I  am  in  a  way  to  get  my 
soul's  health.  Therefore,  I  pray  you  heartily,  for 
all  the  love  that  ever  was  between  us,  that  you  see 
me  no  more  in  the  visage  j  but  turn  to  thy  king- 
dom again,  and  keep  well  thy  realm  from  war  and 
wrack.  So  well  have  I  loved  you  that  my  heart 
will  not  serve  me  to  see  you,  for  through  you  and 
me  is  the  flower  of  kings  and  knights  destroyed. 
Therefore,  Sir  Lancelot,  go  to  thy  realm,  and  take 
there  a  wife,  and  live  with  her  in  joy  and  bliss; 
and  I  beseech  you  heartily  to  pray  to  Grod  for  me, 
that  I  may  amend  my  mis-living." 

"  Nay,  madam,  I  shall  never  take  a  wife,"  said 
Lancelot.  "  Never  shall  I  be  false  to  you ;  but 
the  same  lot  you  have  chosen  that  shall  I  choose." 

"  If  you  will  do  so,  I  pray  tbat  you  may,"  said 
the  queen.  "  Yet  I  cannot  believe  but  that  you 
will  turn  to  the  world  again." 

"  Madam,"  he  earnestly  replied,  "  in  the  quest  of 
the  Sangreal  I  would  have  forsaken  the  world  but 
for  the  service  of  your  lord.  If  I  had  done  so 
then  with  all  my  heart,  I  had  passed  all  the 
knights  on  the  quest  except  Galahad,  my  son. 
And  had  I  now  found  you  disposed  to  earthly 
joys,  I  would  have  begged  you  to  come  into  my 


260  THE   HAND  OF   DESTINY. 

realm.  But  since  1  find  you  turned  to  heavenly 
hopes,  I,  too,  shall  take  to  penance,  and  pray  while 
my  life  lasts,  if  I  can  find  any  hermit,  either  gray 
or  white,  who  will  receive  me.  Wherefore,  madam, 
I  pray  you  kiss  me,  and  never  more  shall  my  lips 
touch  woman's." 

"  Nay,"  said  the  queen,  "  that  shall  I  never  do. 
But  take  you  my  blessing,  and  leave  me." 

Then  they  parted.  But  hard  of  heart  would 
he  have  been  who  had  not  wept  to  see  their  grief; 
for  there  was  lamentation  as  deep  as  though  they 
had  been  wounded  with  spears.  The  ladies  bore 
the  queen  to  her  chamber,  and  Lancelot  took  his 
horse  and  rode  all  that  day  and  all  that  night  in 
a  forest,  weeping. 

At  last  he  became  aware  of  a  hermitage  and  a 
chapel  that  stood  between  two  cliffs,  and  then  he 
heard  a  little  bell  ring  to  mass,  so  he  rode  thither 
and  alighted,  and  heard  mass. 

He  that  sang  mass  was  the  archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, and  with  him  was  Sir  Bevidere.  After 
the  mass  they  conversed  together,  and  when 
Bevidere  had  told  all  his  lamentable  tale,  Lance- 
lot's heart  almost  broke  with  sorrow.  He  flung 
his  arms  abroad,  crying, — 

"  Alas !  who  may  trust  this  world  ?" 

Then  he  kneeled,  and  prayed  the  bishop  to 
shrive  and  absolve  him,  beseeching  that  he 
might  accept  him  as  his  brother  in  the  faith. 
To  this  the  bishop  gladly  consented,  and  he 
put  a  religious  habit  on  Lancelot,  who  served 


THE   DEATH   OF   LANCELOT   AND   OUENEVER.      261 

God  there  night  and  day  with  prayers  and  fast- 
ings. 

Meanwhile  the  army  remained  at  Dover.  But 
Lionel  with  fifteen  lords  rode  to  London  to  seek 
Lancelot.  There  he  was  assailed  by  Mordred's 
friends,  and  slain  with  many  of  his  lords.  Then 
Sir  Bors  bade  the  kings,  with  their  followers,  to 
return  to  France.  But  he,  with  others  of  Lan- 
celot's kindred,  set  out  to  ride  over  all  England 
in  search  of  their  lost  leader. 

At  length  Bors  came  by  chance  to  the  chapel 
where  Lancelot  was.  As  he  rode  by  be  heard  the 
sound  of  a  little  bell  that  rang  to  mass,  and  there- 
upon alighted  and  entered  the  chapel.  But  when 
he  saw  Lancelot  and  Bevidere  in  hermits'  clothing 
his  surprise  was  great,  and  he  prayed  for  the 
privilege  to  put  on  the  same  suit.  Afterwards 
other  knights  joined  them,  so  that  there  were 
seven  in  all. 

There  they  remained  in  penance  for  six  years, 
and  afterwards  Sir  Lancelot  took  the  habit  of  » 
priest,  and  for  a  twelvemonth  he  sang  mass.  But 
at  length  came  a  night  when  he  had  a  vision  that 
bade  him  to  seek  Almesbury,  where  he  would  find 
Guenever  dead.  Thrice  that  night  was  the  vision 
repeated,  and  Lancelot  rose  before  day  and  told 
the  hermit  of  what  he  had  dreamed. 

"  It  is  from  God,"  said  the  hermit.  "  See  that 
you  make  ready,  and  disobey  not  the  warning." 

So,  in  the  early  morn,  Lancelot  and  his  fellows 
pet  out  on  foot  from  Glastonbury  to  Almesbury, 


262  THE    HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

which  is  little  more  than  thirty  miles.  But  they 
were  two  days  on  the  road,  for  they  were  weak 
and  feeble  with  long  penance.  And  when  they 
reached  the  nunnery  they  found  that  Guenever 
had  died  but  half  an  hour  before. 

The  ladies  told  Lancelot  that  the  queen  had 
said, — 

"  Hither  cometh  Lancelot  as  fast  as  ne  may  to 
fetch  my  corpse.  But  I  beseech  Almighty  God 
that  I  may  never  behold  him  again  with  my 
mortal  eyes." 

This,  said  the  ladies,  was  her  prayer  for  two 
days,  till  she  died.  When  Lancelot  looked  upon 
her  dead  face  he  wept  not  greatly,  but  sighed. 
And  he  said  all  the  service  for  the  dead  himself 
and  in  the  morning  he  sang  mass. 

Then  was  the  corpse  placed  in  a  horse-bier,  and 
so  taken  to  Glastonbury  with  a  hundred  torches 
ever  burning  about  it,  and  Lancelot  and  his  fel- 
lows on  foot  beside  it,  singing  and  reading  many 
a  holy  orison,  and  burning  frankincense  about  the 
corpse. 

When  the  chapel  had  been  reached,  and  service 
said  by  the  hermit  archbishop,  the  queen's  corpse 
was  wrapped  in  cered  cloth  of  Raines,  thirty-fold, 
and  afterwards  was  put  in  a  web  of  lead,  and  then 
in  a  coffin  of  marble. 

But  when  the  corpse  of  her  whom  he  had  so 
long  loved  was  put  in  the  earth,  Lancelot  swooned 
with  grief,  and  lay  long  like  one  dead,  till  the 
hermit  came  and  aroused  him,  and  said, — 


TDM  DMATH   OF   LANCELOT   AND   OUKNKVKR.      253 

"  You  are  to  blame  for  such  unmeasured  grief. 
Y"ou  displease  God  thereby." 

"  I  trust  not,"  Lancelot  replied,  "  for  my  sorrow 
is  too  deep  ever  to  cease.  When  I  remember  how 
greatly  I  am  to  blame  for  the  death  of  this  noble 
King  Arthur  and  Queen  Guenever,  my  heart  sinks 
within  me,  and  I  feel  that  I  shall  never  know  a 
moment's  joy  again." 

Thereafter  he  sickened  and  pined  away,  for  the 
bishop  nor  any  of  his  fellows  could  make  him  eat 
nor  drink  but  very  little,  but  day  and  night  he 
prayed,  and  wasted  away,  and  ever  lay  grovelling 
on  the  tomb  of  the  queen. 

So,  within  six  weeks  afterwards,  Lancelot  fell 
sick  and  lay  in  his  bed.  Then  he  sent  for  the 
bishop  and  all  his  fellows,  and  said  with  sad 
voice :  "  Sir  Bishop,  I  pray  you  give  me  all  the 
rites  that  belong  to  a  Christian  man,  for  my  end 
is  at  hand." 

"  This  is  but  heaviness  of  your  blood,"  replied 
the  bishop.  "  You  shall  be  well  amended,  I  hope, 
through  God's  grace,  by  to-morrow  morning." 

"  In  heaven,  mayhap,  but  not  on  earth,"  said 
Lancelot.  "  So  give  me  the  rites  of  the  church, 
and  after  my  death  I  beg  you  to  take  my  body 
to  Joyous  Gard,  for  thera  I  have  vowed  that  I 
would  be  buried." 

When  they  had  heard  this,  and  saw  that  he 
he  was  indeed  near  his  end,  there  was  such  weep- 
ing and  wringing  of  hands  among  his  fellows 
that  they  could  hardly  help  the  bishop  in  the 
22. 


254  THE   HAND   OF   DESTINY. 

holy  offices  of  the  church.  But  that  night,  after 
the  midnight  hour,  as  the  bishop  lay  asleep,  he 
fell  into  such  a  hearty  laugh  of  joy  that  they  all 
came  to  him  in  haste,  and  asked  him  what  ailed 
him. 

"  Why  did  you  wake  me  ?"  he  cried.  "  I  was 
never  in  my  life  so  happy  and  merry." 

"  Wherefore  ?"  asked  Sir  Bors. 

"  Truly,  here  was  Sir  Lancelot  with  me,  with 
more  angels  than  I  ever  saw  men  together ;  and 
I  saw  the  angels  bear  him  to  heaven,  and  the 
gates  of  heaven  opened  to  him." 

"This  is  but  the  vexation  of  a  dream,"  said 
Sir  Bors.  "  Lancelot  may  yet  mend." 

"  Go  to  his  bed,"  said  the  hermit,  "  and  you 
shall  find  if  my  dream  has  meaning." 

This  they  hastened  to  do,  and  there  lay  Lan- 
celot dead,  but  with  a  smile  on  his  lips,  and  the 
sweetest  savor  about  him  they  ever  had  known. 

Great  was  the  grief  that  followed,  for  never 
earthly  man  was  mourned  as  was  Lancelot.  In 
the  morning,  after  the  bishop  had  made  a  requiem 
mass,  he  and  his  fellows  put  the  corpse  of  the 
noble  knight  into  the  same  horse-bier  that  had 
borne  Guenever,  and  the  queen's  corpse  with  it, 
and  they  were  taken  together  to  Joyous  Gard, 
with  such  state  and  ceremony  as  befitted  those 
of  royal  blood. 

And  there  all  the  services  of  the  church  were 
sung  and  read,  while  the  face  of  Lancelot  lay 
open  for  people  to  see;  for  such  was  then  the 


TEX  DKATH   OF   LANCELOT   AND   GUKNEVEE.      255 

custom  of  the  land.  When  the  services  were  over 
they  were  buried  in  one  tomb,  for  so  great  had 
been  their  love  during  life  that  all  men  said  they 
should  not  be  divided  in  death. 

During  these  events,  Sir  Constantino,  the  noble 
son  of  Sir  Cador  of  Cornwall,  had  been  chosen 
king  of  England  in  Arthur's  place,  and  a  worthy 
monarch  he  proved,  ruling  the  realm  worsbipfully 
and  long. 

After  Lancelot's  death  the  new  king  sent  for 
the  bishop  of  Canterbury,  and  restored  him  to  hifl 
archbishopric  j  but  Sir  Bevidere  remained  a  her- 
mit at  Glastonbury  to  his  life's  end. 

King  Constantino  also  desired  the  kindred  of 
Lancelot  to  remain  in  his  realm;  but  this  they 
would  not  do,  but  returned  to  their  own  country. 
Four  of  them,  Sir  Bors,  Sir  Hector,  Sir  Blamor, 
and  Sir  Bleoberis,  went  to  the  Holy  Land,  where 
they  fought  long  and  stoutly  against  the  Saracens. 
And  there  they  died  upon  a  Good  Friday,  for 
God's  sake. 

And  so  ends  the  book  of  the  life  and  death  of 
Bang  Arthur  and  his  noble  Knights  of  the  Bound 
Table,  who  were  au  hundred  and  fifty  when  they 
were  all  together.  Let  us  pray  that  God  was  mer- 
ciful to  them  all. 


THE   END. 


UCSB  LIBRARY 

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DC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


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